222 



flcto Ipublitaltons. 



Mycologicnl Illudratlons^ bebig Figures and Descriptions of New and Rare 

 Hynunomycetons Finigi. Edited by W. Wilson Saundeks, T.K.S., 

 F.L.S., and Worthington G. Smith, F.L.S., assisted by A. W. 

 Bennett, M.A., B.Sc, F.L.S. 



This is a work which will be cordially welcomed by all British mycolo- 

 gists. The authors propose to publish a series of coloured figures of 

 British Hymenomycetous Fungi, to be confined principally to such as are 

 new or rare, but to include occasionally other species which, although avcU 

 known, may not have been hitherto satisfactorily figured. This first part 

 consists of 24 phites, containing figures of 30 species, of which 18 belong to 

 the genus Jgaricus, 6 to Cortinnrins, 1 to Laciari/is, 1 to Copriniis, 1 to Gom- 

 phidiits, 1 to Cantharelliis, and 2 to Boletus. To those who are acquainted 

 with the artistic powers of Mr. Wilson Saunders and Mr. W. G. Smith, it is 

 hardly necessary to say that the figures are excellent. Of the 30 species 

 drawn, 14 have not been figui-ed before, and some others only in works by 

 no means easily accessible. There is little to be said by wny of criticism. 

 A few remarks only have suggested themselves in looking through the 

 text and plates. Cantharellus radicosus {^\. 1) shows, in a mai'ked manner, 

 how deceptive a character size may be without the examination of a large 

 series of specimens. This plant was described in the 'Annals of Natural 

 History ' (1866) as having a pileus three-fourths to one inch across. The 

 pileus of the largest plant shown on this plate is nearly three inches in 

 diameter, and the authors state that some specimens found in Epping 

 Forest were much larger than any they have figured. The pure glutinous 

 white of Agaricits nmcidus can hardly be shown in a drawing. Specimens 

 occasionally occur having the dark tint shown in ])late 5, fig. 2 ; but the 

 foxy tinge of the pileus, stem, and ring in fig. 1 leads to the supposition 

 that the drawing was made from specimens past their prime. The same 

 remark applies to J. lignatilis (pi. 6, fig. 4), the cold dead white of which 

 is as difficult to represent as the slimy pileus of A. mncidns. Some of the 

 fungi figured are of considerable beauty, and of these the most striking 

 are, perhaps^ GompJiidius glutinosns var. roseus, Cortinarius dibaphus and 

 carulescens, ami Boletus calopus. Coprinus lagopus also is extremely 

 elegant. A few places will be found in which the text and the plates are 

 not quite in accord, and to which it may be worth while to call attention. 

 The gills of /-Igaricus sinnpizans and Cortinarius stillatitius are described 

 as emaiginate, but the sections (plates 2 and 3) do not exhibit this struc- 

 ture, and the same remark applies to Cortinarius caniuus (pi. 15). The 

 stem of Boletus pachypus, as shown in the drawing (pi. 17), cannot be 

 called reticulated. In Agaricus dispersus (pi. 24) the stem is described 

 in the text as about two inches long, but if the stems in the drawing are 

 measured, they will be found to be very nearly seven inches in length. It 

 may be doubted whether the pileus in A. hydrophilus is not rather too 

 darkly-coloured ; but it is stated that the specimens were gathered after 

 much rain, which may account for a departure from the normal tint. In 

 conclusion, it is much to be hoped that this most useful and interesting 

 publication may meet with sufficient support to enable its energetic 

 editors to issue further parts in quick succession. F. C. 



