252 ON COMMENCING THE STUDY OF FUNGI. 



apply for yourselves all such general answers as will apply to all the 

 departments of Biology. 



I will attempt only two or three, which are special to the subject. 

 First, — The field is so little trodden that you are sure to bring credit to 

 yourself by your investigations ; and you will probably soon receive 

 encouragement by some discovery, either of new forms or new phases, 

 such as the well-worked entomology could not so readily furnish. 

 Secondly, — Your acquisition of practical knowledge may add very 

 considerably to your creature comforts. Taking, as a low estimate, 

 fifty species found in this country to be good eating — and some are 

 delicious — you will be able to add a few choice dishes to your table, 

 and to invite your friends to repasts of which they had not before 

 tasted. I have never recommended anyone to experiment with fungi, 

 but I do recommend those who are able with certainty to distinguish 

 one fungus from another, as readily as they can distinguish a chaffinch 

 from a crow, to eat such as are edible, because no two of them are 

 exactly alike, and some of them will produce quite a new sensation, 

 and will remain a standing dish at your table for ever after. Eight 

 or nine gentlemen of my acquaintance once supped with me, now 

 twenty years ago. They were beguiled to eat of a mysterious dish. 

 It was fried puff-ball. Not one of them now living lias forgotten 

 that supper, and it is almost always mentioned when we meet, for 

 meetings are rare with old friends, and the reminiscence always 

 affords pleasure, as did the repast. 



Prejudice is very strong against eating any fungus but that called 

 the Mushroom, and yet I suppose that I have eaten forty others which 

 are quite as harmless, some quite as good, others perhaps better, and 

 all quite as easy of determination — some more easy, for they can 

 scarcely be mistaken. 



I think a successful appeal to an Englishman's stomach needs no 

 further answer to " what good is it ? " I must now crave permission to 

 conclude with a word or two of counsel. 



Do not imagine that there is any royal road to the knowledge of 

 fungi. The only road is patience and perseverance. 



Do not despair because you fail ten times in determining a fungus 

 accurately, for many have failed before you. 



Do not rest satisfied with having your specimens named for you. 

 It is better to make out a few for yourself than only to learn them 

 empirically by being told their names, and never learning the reason 

 why. It is useful to have a few species pointed out, or a difficult 

 problem solved ; but this being done, the next step should be to com- 

 pare the specimens carefully with the description in the book, and 

 see how the two things agree. Never take upon trust what is told 

 you, if you have the opportunity of verifying for yourself. The road 

 to truth runs through the portals of doubt. 



In my experience I have known many who call themselves 

 naturalists, who collect a batch of Bpecimens, trouble themselves not 



