lo I5RITIS1I FUNC.I 



The brilliant colours, combined with the strong, penetratint,' smell, 

 may be considered as advertisements, indicating to flies the where- 

 abouts of a meal. The flies, unconsciously, disperse the spores. 



It is somewhat remarkable that in flowering plants scent and 

 colour serve as guides in securing fertilization through the agency 

 of insects, whereas in fungi the same factors, again through the 

 agency of insects, effect the distribution of spores. 



In writing books I have always kept one pet ideal in \-iew, that is, 

 never under any circumstances to anticipate, or in otlier words, 

 never to assume that the reader does understand a given term or 

 phrase which my own conscience clearly tells me he cannot be 

 expected to understand. Unfortunately I have ne\'er nearlv 

 approached to my ideal in this respect, and I feel equally certain 

 I never shall. So far as I can see, this could only be accomplished 

 by making every chapter the first chapter. 



Before closing this introductory portion, I wish to draw attention 

 to a very beautiful and obvious sequence of evolution, or gradual 

 accommodation to circumstances, as illustrated in the different 

 families of fungi collectively constituting the large group called 

 Hymenomycetes. But what are Hymenomycetes ? The definition 

 is given later on in the book. Those who do not realize the signi- 

 ficance of the term Hymenomycetes and the families included, 

 must return to this portion after the characters of the large groups 

 of fungi have been mastered. 



In the Basidiomycetes, the general evolution of the group is 

 very marked in two particulars of primary importance, namely, 

 securing the greatest possible spore-bearing surface or hymenium 

 with the least possible expenditure of material ; and secondly, 

 modifications of structure for the purpose of protecting the hy- 

 menium from adverse climatic conditions, rain, dust, etc., also from 

 li^•ing enemies, snails, slugs, etc. 



The simplest types of structure are met with in the family 

 Thelephoraceae, where many species of Corticium (Plate XXXIH, 

 Figs. I, 3, 5, 6), etc., resemble patches of paint or whitewash on 

 dead wood, branches, or dead leaves. In such the entire exposed 

 surface, which is perfectly smooth or even, consists of hymenium, 

 and pointing upwards, is fully exposed to the dangers indicated 

 above. In the genus Stereum (Plate XXXII, Fig. 8), the hymenium 

 is yet quite even, and a portion of the fungus usually remains flat 

 on the surface of the wood, as in Corticmm ; but in many instances 

 the uppermost portion of the. fungus becomes free from the wood 

 it is growing upon, and arches over, or spreads at right-angles to its 

 support. This change places the hymenium or spore-bearing 

 portion on the under surface of the free or projecting surface of the 

 fungus, and is the first primitive attempt to protect the spore- 

 bearing portion of the fungus from rain and dust. 



In the ClavariacecTe no attempt is made to protect the hymenium 



