272 FUNGI. 



we able to decide on the like question in reference to the coun- 

 tries beyond Europe." * 



In very cold countries the higher fungi are rare, whilst in 

 tropical countries they are most common at elevations \vhicli 

 secure a temperate climate. In Java, Junghuhn found them 

 most prolific at an elevation 'of 3,000 to 5,000 feet ; and in 

 India, Dr. Hooker remarked that they were most abundant at 

 an elevation of 7,000 to 8,000 feet above the sea level. 



For the higher fungi we must be indebted to the summary 

 made by Fries, to which we have little to add. 



The genus Agaricus occupies the first place, and surpasses, in 

 the number of species, all the other generic groups known. It 

 appears, from our present knowledge, that the Agarici have their 

 geographic centre in the temperate zone, and especially in the 

 colder portion of that zone. It is a curious circumstance that 

 all the extra-European species of this genus Ajaricus may be 

 referred to various European subgenera. 



In tropical countries it appears that the Agarici occupy only a 

 secondary position in relation to other genera of fungi, such as 

 Polyporus, Lenzites, etc. North America, on the other hand, is 

 richer in species of Agaricus than Europe; for whilst the ma- 

 jority of typical forms are common to both continents, America 

 further possesses many species peculiar to itself. In the tem- 

 perate zone, so close is the analogy prevailing between tho 

 various countries in respect to the Agaricini, that from Sweden 

 to Italy, and as well in England as North America, the same 

 species are to be found. Of 500 At/aricini met with in St. 

 Petersburg, there are only two or three which have not been 

 discovered in Sweden; and again, of fifty species known in 

 Greenland, there is not one that is not common in Sweden. The 

 same remarks hold good in reference to the Agaricini of Siberia, 

 Kamtschatka, the Ukraine, etc. The countries bordering upon 

 the Mediterranean possess, however, several peculiar types ; and 

 Eastern and Western Europe present certain dissimilarities in 

 their Agaric inhabitants. Several species, for example, of Armil- 



* Fries, "On the Geographical Distribution of Fungi," in "Ann. anJ Maj. 

 Nat. Hist." ser. iii. vol. ix. p. 279. 



