17 

 THE MODERN METHOD OF STUDYING AGARICS.^ 



GEORGE MASSEE, F.L.S., F.R.II.S., V.M.II. 

 Royal Herbaritim, Ke~,v \ CJuiifman of the Vorkshire J/vco/ogica/ Coimiutfer. 



During the preparation of a recently-published work on luiropean 

 Agarics I was so much struck with certain observations bearing 

 on the complex affinities and distribution of various species, that 

 I have ventured to briefly allude to the subject here. 



In the first place, when dealings with the entire body of 

 European Agarics — or g-ill-bearing- fungi — it becomes obvious 

 that many widely-distributed species have been described under 

 different names in different countries. Secondly, many modern 

 species are in reality nothing more than slightly modified forms 

 of older and in many instances well-known species ; the modi- 

 fications being in some instances of the nature often termed 

 geographical races, in others more restricted local variations. 

 In this connection the point to remember is the fact that these 

 modern so-called species still retain the distinctive specific 

 features of the older species from which they have been snipped, 

 and the local variation is the feature that has decided their 

 elevation to specific rank. The reason for this state of things 

 is not far to seek. It is mostly due to the fact that such species 

 are made by persons whose acquaintance is confined to the 

 fungi of one country, or even part of one country, and con- 

 sequently whose knowledge of the range of variation of any 

 given widely-distributed species is necessarily imperfect. Again, 

 the true or constant specific points that separate allied species 

 are always few in number and quite independent of anv local or 

 geographical accessories that may predominate in any given 

 locality, yet how many mycologists could reel off on the spur of 

 the moment the true specific characteristics of any half dozen 

 species of fungi of their own selection. 



I can readily imagine that if phanerogamists, entomologists, 

 etc., condescend to read this resume, they will be inclined to 

 form a poor opinion of mycologists after this confession ; never- 

 theless, let them test themselves honestly in their own special 

 subject on the above indicated lines. It is comparatively easy 

 after years of field work to name correctly almost any species 

 encountered, but it is quite another matter to know exactly 

 those few constant points of distinction- -specific characters — 



* Paper read at the Y.N.U. Fung-us Foray, Egfton Bridg-e, ist. Oct. 1902. 

 1903 January 3. B 



