1 8 PREAMBLE. 



gills, and thinks, on that account, it must 

 be the Common Mushroom, this method 

 should be tried, and the colour of the spores 

 ascertained, for if the spores are pinkish, 

 then the fungus in question is not the true 

 mushroom, and is possibly dangerous ; but 

 if the spores are dark purple-brown, not- 

 withstanding that the gills were at first 

 pink, then it is perfectly safe. So that 

 the colour of the spores is a question of 

 importance, and should not be neglected, 

 supposing, of course, that the person inter- 

 ested is not perfectly sure, from experience, 

 that the right species is under observation. 

 We have actually known persons mistake 

 white or pink-spored Agarics for mush- 

 rooms, which they could not have done 

 had they paid attention to the colour of 

 the spores. In another instance we re- 

 member a foolish youth cooking and eating 

 a small species with rust-coloured spores, 

 under the impression that they were the 

 Fairy King Champignon, which latter has 

 white spores. Fortunately, in this case, 



