6 PREFACE. 



poisons easy to procure. It is not advisable to mix 

 the descriptions and figures of good and bad species 

 without distinct labelling, as on a chemist's bottle, of 

 " poison " across each noxious species. And it is not 

 desirable to increase the bulk and cost of a little book 

 which was intended in furtherance of " fungus eating." 

 Copious notes have been added on the preparation of 

 the different species for the table, some old and some 

 new, but all practical. By the aid of the descriptions 

 in writing, as untechnical as possible, and the coloured 

 figures, it is hoped that all reasonable care has been 

 taken to prevent error, or danger, in eating mush- 

 rooms or toadstools. If I have rendered the art of 

 fungus eating easier or safer I shall have accomplished 

 my object. 



M. C. COOKE. 



London, 1891. 



