pqu 



Tff^HE species of fungi thus far described 

 have been confined to the two great 

 orders of the Agarics and the Polyporei, 

 which include the large majority of our 

 edible mushrooms and toadstools. 

 The remainder of my selection in the 

 present chapter comprises scattered ex- 

 amples from four other orders: Hydnei (Spine-bear- 

 ers), Clavariei (Coral-fungi), and the Trichogastres 

 (Puff-balls), all belonging to the first great division 

 of the Sporifera. The remaining two species consid- 

 ered — Morel and Helvella, of the order Elvellacei — 

 are my only representatives of the second grand co- 

 hort of the Sporidiifera, whose botanical characters 

 are described on page ']']. 



In our previous examples the hymenium or spore- 

 bearing surface has been disposed upon "gills," as in 

 the Agarics, and on " tubes " in the Polypores. In the 

 Hydnei group, which we will first consider, this dis- 

 seminating surface is spread over spines or teeth. 



The examples selected from this order are both in 

 the typical genus Hydnum ; and the object of this 



