Thallogens.] FUNGALES. 37 



amounts to 35. Wlieu the climates are at all analogous, and the range of the thermo- 

 meter at certain seasons similar, it is astonishing how great a resemblance, and even 

 identity, there is between the Fungi of very distant portions of the globe. North America 

 produces far the greater part of the European species, with a certain portion peculiar to 

 itself. Hundreds of the same species of Sphseria and Agaricus occur in that country 

 which are found with us. The curious genus Mitromyces, which seemed peculiar to that 

 country, has been found in Java, Van Dicmen's Land, and New Holland. And it would, 

 perhaps, be difhcult to point out any specific group peculiarly characteristic of the country. 

 But the same resemblance exists, to a great extent, also in the southern hemisphere. 

 In the island of Juan Fernandez, Avhich was so carefully investigated by Bertero, 

 scarce a third of the species differ from European Fungi. The same is the case in 

 the Flora of New Zealand and Australia, from whence I possess a large quantity of 

 species ; and though there are many new forms, and some belonging to genera not 

 hitherto fomid in Europe, a large proportion of the species are identical. In the 

 genus Agaricus the species in countries of every variety of climate are often identical. 

 The African Mycology is remarkable for the varied forms it produces amongst the 

 puff-balls and alhed genera, especially in that tribe which is called Podaxinese. They 

 commence at the south of Europe, m the environs of Marseilles ; abound at the Cape 

 of Good Hope, and form a very remarkable feature still in the Fungi of Swan River. 

 Two species of the African geiius. Secotium occur at the Swan River ; and possibly a 

 third, and a very beautiful species, occurs in New Zealand. A species of Fodaxon 

 was found by Dr. Hooker at Porto Praya, identical with the East Indian species. A 

 smgle imperfectly known species occurs in the warmer parts of North Am.erica. The 

 genus Clathrus, which is perhaps the most beautiful amongst Fungi, though unknown in 

 the more northern latitudes, has a most extensive geographical range. A hue, mnnmg 

 obUquely from the Isle of Wight through Germany, defines its northern Umits : two 

 species, one of the allied genus Ileodictyon, occur at the Swan River ; and a magnifi- 

 cent species of that genus occurs in New Zealand, and is eaten by the natives. 

 On the whole, then, it will be seen that the geographical limits of Fungi are by no 

 means so definite as those of Pheenogamous plants. Some species are found in every 

 part of the globe ; and several tropical forms are either universally dispersed, or occur 

 m spots separated from each other by many thousands of miles. In the genus Poly- 

 porus every country seems to have species peculiar to itself ; and from the number of 

 new forms which daily occur, the genus seems to be almost co-extensive with Agaricus. 

 It is in this genus, probably, if in any, that the species will be found to follow the most 

 nearly a geographical arrangement. . 



A large vohune might be wa-itten upon the qualities and uses of Fungi. They may 

 be said to be important, either as food or as poison, or as parasites destructive to the 

 plants upon which they grow. As food, the most valuable are the Agaricus campes- 

 tris, or common Mushroom, the various species of Helvella or Morel, and Tuber or 

 TinifHe ; but a considerable number of other kmds are used for food in various parts of 

 the w^orld, of which a useful account will be found in De Candolle's excellent Essai mr 

 Its Proprietes Medicales des Plantes, in Persoon's work, Snr les Champignons comestibles, 

 in a paper by Greville in the 4th volume of the Transactions of the Wemerian Society, 

 and in Roque's Hist, des Champ, comestibles et venencKX, ed. 2, 1841. A long list might 

 be given of works on the subject, some of them like those of Vittadim, Phoebus, and 

 Krombholz, very admirably got up. 



About half a dozen species only are eaten in London, and in Paris none are per- 

 mitted to appear in the markets except the common Truflie, Morel, and INlushroom, the 

 latter being cultivated to a very considerable extent m the ancient quarries which run 

 under parts of the city. 



It is necessary to exercise the utmost care in employing Fungi the nature of which 

 is not perfectly well ascertained, in consequence of the resemblance of poisonous and 

 wholesome species, and the dreadful eff-ects that have followed their incautious use. 

 But the greatest caution and knowledge will not always avail, for it appears that some 

 species which are m general perfectly wholesome, sometimes produce very disastrous 

 consequences. A family at Cambridge a few years since suftered from eating mush- 

 rooms ; a part of what were gathered were submitted to the writer of the present 

 remarks, and proved to be Ag. personatus, a species sold sometimes in the London 

 markets, and ascertained by Mrs. Hussey, who has paid great attention to the subject, to 

 be most excellent for food. The case perhaps is similar to that of the prejudicial efiects 

 sometimes experienced by persons after eating mussels, and may be considered as a 

 mere exception. j i +i 



It is time that many kinds are named by Pallas as being commonly used by tlie 

 Russians, which are plentiful in countries where they are not employed tor food ; Dut, 

 in the first place, it is not perhaps quite certain that poisonous and wholesome species 



