FUNGI IN PAIRS. 65 



Amongst Agarics there are undoubtedly Amanita phalloides 

 (Fries.) and Amanita mappa (Bat.) which may be distinguished 

 from each other in their common forms, but where a large 

 number come together, there will often be found specimens 

 which could not with certainty be referred to either species. 

 Then again there are Clitopilns ovcella (Bull) and Clitopilus 

 pvunulus (Scop.), which approach each other so closely in some 

 forms as to justify those mycologists in their doubts, who 

 consider them one species. Nor can we forget such species as 

 Copvinus comatus (Fr.) and Copvinus ovalis (Sch.), although the 

 comatus form is comparatively permanent. Some of the species 

 of Russnla are distinct enough in their typical forms, but are 

 very puzzling when their characteristics are reduced to the 

 lowest point, and the species seem to coalesce. This is often the 

 case with Russnla citvina (Gill) and Russnla granulosa (Cooke) 

 from which Russnla ochroleuca (Pers.) is chiefly distinguished by 

 the rugose greyish stem. Then again Russnla emetica (Fries) and 

 the red forms of Russnla fvagilis (Pers) become critical when the 

 flesh of the former does not appear reddish beneath the cuticle. 

 We need not allude to Hygvoplwvus lestus (Fries) and Hygvophorus 

 lioughtoni (B. and Br,), since no one will now contend against 

 their specific identity. If one might refer to such a genus as 

 Inocybe, which seems full of doubts, then Inocybe pyviodova (Pers.) 

 and Inocybe incavnata (Bres) are occasionally indistinguishable. 

 We can scarcely introduce Stvophavia squamosa (Fries.) and 

 Stvophavia thvausta (Kalch) as a case in point, because very few 

 persons regard them as distinct species. It would be easy to 

 multiply instances of this kind, but two species must not be 

 forgotten, if they are really distinct, and these are Pholiota 

 tevvigena (Fries.) and Pholiota cookei (Fries.). Surely if we are 

 right in our determination of the former, the latter is only a 

 slender variety. There are two or three species of Nolanea, with 

 a strong fishy odour, such as Naucovia piceus (Kalch) and 

 Nolanea pisciodova (Ces), often very distinct in appearance, but 

 occasionally very suspiciously alike. These are a few of the 

 " curiosities of mycology," or, we might call them " puzzles for 

 the curious," which will trouble the student, but should not 

 discourage him, but rather stimulate to a further and better 

 knowledge of the secrets of Isis, on whose statues of old was 

 inscribed the legend " I am all that has been, that shall be, and 

 no mortal has lifted the veil that covers me." 



