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EDIBLE AND POISONOUS FUNGI. 
Edible | and | Poisonous Mushrooms: | Mae to Eat and what to Avoid. | 
By | M.-C. Cooke, M.A., LL.D., | . . | with eighteen coloured 
plates | illustrating forty-eight species. | . ip . - . | London: | Society 
for Promoting Christian Knowledge, | . . y .. |. . | 1894. [Small 8vo., 
pp- 126 
There has recently been published by the Society for Promoting 
Christian Knowledge a useful little book on Edible and Poisonous 
Fungi, written by Dr. M. C. Cooke. The aim of the book is to 
impart such information as will enable those who are wishful to 
obtain some knowledge of a few of the more prominent species of 
British Fungi, particularly those which are edible and those which 
are poisonous or dangerous. To make this aim more certain 
coloured figures are added of all the species dealt with in the 
text; these, taken in conjunction with the written descriptions, 
which, by the way, are quite free from technicalities, will prevent the 
possibility of any error being made by an ordinarily careful observer. 
The use of this book and a little practice in the field will soon make 
the collector familiar with both the edible species and those which 
must be discarded. The plates containing the figures are distributed 
throughout the work in convenient places for reference, which is 
a decided advantage. There is a very good array of edible species, 
including nearly all the best and most easily obtainable. 
One can speak from personal experience of the dainty dishes it 
is possible to prepare from those recommended. Every season great 
quantities of fungi good for food are allowed to decay away and be 
lost simply for want of a little easily-obtainable knowledge respecting 
their esculent qualities. 
The writer once heard an eater of edible toadstools remark that 
‘he couldn’t see much fun in spending a hour or two seeking 
a mushroom when he could fill a basket in five minutes with others 
quite as good or even better.’ 
Referring to the ‘get up’ of the book throughout we cannot 
speak too highly, it reflects the highest credit on both publisher and 
printer. It has a smart appearance, quite up to the times ; the paper 
is good, the type suitable, and the illustrations, not by any means 
the least difficult to manage,taken as a whole will compare favourably 
with anything that has yet been produced in this country in that line ; 
- little fault can be found except in the shading in two or three cases. 
For instance, the gills of C/itopilus orcella are too dark; Cantharellus 
cibarius is too brown, the fungus when growing being a bright yolk- 
ofegg yellow. These little defects notwithstanding, it is worthy 
a place in the best natural history or any other library. The price is 
very reasonable and within the reach of everybody.—C. CrossLanp. 
Mar. 1895. J 
