160 Canadian Record of Science. 



list contains the names and a few items regarding 

 some sixty-six species found in the Province. 



We shall, I hope, hear something on this subject 

 from Professor Macoun before long, as I am told, he 

 has given it some attention during the past three or 

 four years. 



All fungi are plants belonging to the lowest order 

 of Cryptogams, and being devoid of chlorophyll are 

 unable to decompose the carbon di-oxide of the atmos- 

 phere, and consequently depend upon other organisms 

 for their carbonaceous food, and, according as these 

 organisms are living or dead they are classed as Para- 

 sites or Saprophytes. 



The number of known species in 1889, was estimated 

 at 32,000, of these 8,500 were known as fungi imper- 

 fecti, as only certain stages of their growth were 

 known, and it was thought they might prove to be cor- 

 responding stages in the growth of higher forms. 



My remarks will be upon the higher or more con- 

 spicuous forms known as Mushrooms and Toadstools. 



You will notice in all the titles of books or articles 

 that these terms are interchangeable, as they mean 

 exactly the same thing to the Mycologist and the 

 Mycophagist, although those who have given no study 

 to the subject usually restrict the term "Mushroom" 

 to the one known as the field mushroom or to its culti- 

 vated form found in the markets. I think it would be 

 well to use this term to indicate the edible species, and 

 the word toad-stool to indicate those which are 

 poisonous or otherwise unfit for food. 



Perhaps I might explain here that a Mycologist is one 

 who studies mushrooms, a Mycophagist is one who eats 

 them. The latter term suggested to a young member 

 of our family, the warning that we should be careful 

 in our experiments or we might become subjects for a 

 Sarcophagus. 



"We find fungi of all sizes from the minute dust-like 

 Coniomycetes to the large Polypores which sometimes 

 weigh many pounds, and of very great variety in form 

 and color. 



