1 6 BRITISH EDIBLE FUNGI. 



he says, " was a person of some scientific information. 

 At a time when he could not afford to buy meat, he 

 told me himself that he kept his family for several 

 months upon different species of mushrooms. He 

 was a person who was able to distinguish between 

 that which was good and that which was bad, and he 

 collected them himself." 



If we have not made out a case for fungus eating, 

 it is not from any lack of feeling in favour of it. 

 From experience we have learnt that preaching is 

 not half so successful as practice in carrying con- 

 viction, and we doubt if we have not made more 

 converts by prevailing upon them to eat of dishes set 

 before them at our instigation, than by writing up 

 their virtues in books. There is always a latent 

 timidity, at least in most minds, of committing a 

 mistake, and being poisoned ; or else there is a 

 scepticism that substitutes are never so good as 

 originals. In this case the error consists in regard- 

 ing as substitutes for mushrooms viands which are 

 not proposed as substitutes, but as supplementary. 

 Fungus eaters do not appreciate the ordinary mush- 

 room the less because they can eat of fifty other 

 kinds " without fear and trembling," and without any 

 question of competition being present in their minds. 

 As in nature there is endless variety in form and 

 colour, so in fungi there is great variety in flavour, 

 instead of a uniform sameness. Let those who doubt 

 read on, and profit by the succeeding chapters. 



