1 906-190 7-] A Few Re^narks on Mushroom Phenomena. 341 



ularia nodosa), and the common agrimony (Agrimonia Eupa- 

 toria) are in abundance in the vicinity of Penicuik. 



In conclusion, I must confess that I have had few, if any, 

 rare plants to enumerate ; but if I have failed in this respect, 

 I may at least have evoked memories of pleasant bygone 

 rambles, with expectations of others yet to come, on the sunny 

 moors and in the shady dells that surround " The Hill of the 

 Cuckoo." 



At this meeting Dr Watson made a very interesting com- 

 munication on " A Mushroom Excursion : what common Fungi 

 are found, and how they are identified." 



11.—^ FEW REMARKS ON MUSHROOM 

 PHENOMENA. 



By Mr JOHN PATOK 



{Read Dec. 19, 1906.) 



My object to-night is to present briefly some of the more 

 notable phenomena of Fungi; but before taking up that 

 branch, I would like to point out a few fallacies regarding 

 mushrooms, some of which are even held by experts. 



One of the most common blunders is to class all Fungi, with 

 the exception of Agaricus campestris, A. arvensis, and A. gam- 

 bosus, as " toadstools," and no doubt this unfortunate title has 

 helped largely to hinder the appreciation of many species 

 which would otherwise have been accepted as not only beauti- 

 ful objects in themselves, but very dainty articles of food. 



Another very common error is that mushrooms grow in a 

 night. It is true that some species have very rapid growth, 

 notably the puff-ball (Trichogastres). But this belief is no 

 doubt induced by the experience of the outdoor gatherers of 

 mushrooms. They go out to the fields in the morning and 

 fill the proverbial clothes-basket with mushrooms which they 

 positively assert were not there the night before. They over- 



