1 6 PREAMBLE. 



named, and that is the colour of the spores 

 produced by each species. When any of 

 the gill-bearing fungi are expanded, and near 

 maturity, the gills will be observed to vary 

 in colour, some being white, and others of 

 almost any tint of grey, or brown, to black. 

 But the colour of the gills must not be 

 relied upon as that of the spores, for in 

 some cases the gills may be more or less 

 coloured, whilst the spores remain white. 

 To ascertain accurately the colour of the 

 spores, the stem should be cut off close to 

 the under-side of the cap, and then the 

 severed cap should be placed, with the 

 gills downward, upon a sheet of paper, and 

 permitted to remain in that, position all 

 night. In the morning the spores will 

 have fallen from the gills upon the paper, 

 outlining the form of the cap, and showing 

 the radiating lines of the gills. If the 

 spores are believed to be white, or light- 

 coloured, opaque black paper should be 

 employed ; but if very dark, or black, then 

 white paper should be used. This enables 



