BRITISH FUNGI 371 



tion of the special terminology used. An account of classification 

 — mainly of the larger fungi — follows, with a detailed key of the 

 families in the order Basidiomycetes. Mr. Massee then returns to 

 more general information, and in several chapters discusses the 

 collecting and preserving of specimens, the diseases of the higher 

 plants caused by. fungi, and other matters of interest. In Part ii. 

 he takes up again the classification already outlined in an earlier 

 chapter. In a second edition of the book the chapter on Classi- 

 fication should be placed next to Part ii., so that the student may 

 not be suddenly confronted with an apparently unrelated and un- 

 explained " Agaricacea." Still another improvement might be 

 made by using differences of type in the headings to emphasize the 

 various divisions. It is very bewildering to find Basidiomycetes, 

 Hymenomycetes, AgaricacecB, Polyporacece, &c., all figuring in type 

 of equal importance. 



A key to the genera is given under each family or subfamily. 

 In addition, Mr. Massee writes a connected account of the dis- 

 tinctive features of each genus, pointing out in a graphic and 

 interesting way not only the affinities but the differences between 

 closely allied genera. Such descriptive summaries should delight 

 the student ; they cannot be too highly praised. Any artificial 

 arrangement of genera is sure to separate nearly related groups ; 

 for instance, Bussula follows Triclioloma, and is divided from 

 Lactarius, its close ally, by Mycena, Collybia, and Marasmius. 

 Such non-natural sequences should have been avoided. 



When we come to the descriptions of species, we find them 

 shortly but quite clearly expressed, only there are no guiding head- 

 lines, and no indication on many pages as to the genus under dis- 

 cussion except the initial letter. This is a serious drawback to the 

 usefulness of the book. 



Many of the notes and descriptions seem to have suffered from 

 too hasty compilation, as if there had been no time for exact 

 statements, and no opportunity for revision. We are instructed, 

 for instance, how to make spore-prints (p. 34), and advised to keep 

 them as records, but the essential part, viz. floating the prints on 

 diluted gum in order to fasten down and preserve the spores, is 

 left out. Under Helvellacece (p. 25) we read of species of Hdvella, 

 " commonly known as Morels," and on the following page we are 

 wrongly told that all the species of Hypoxylon are black in colour. 

 Again, we find it stated under Clavariacece (p. 29) that " Sparassis 

 is considered as a delicacy, and several other species are edible" — 

 a sufficiently confusing statement. 



Mr. Massee strongly advises solitary collecting as being prefer- 

 able to joining a fungus foray (p. 35), and then a little later (p. 67) 

 he informs us that " the assistance of a more experienced person 

 is invaluable to the student." This is undoubtedly true, but few 

 students can have the privilege of a private tutor, and they must 

 rely on the joint fungus foray, where much help is given and 

 I'eceived. 



Throughout the book there are helpful explanatory notes full 

 of insight and understanding, as, for instance, under TremelU- 



