PREAMBLE. 



It is an accepted fact that some fungi 

 of the mushroom type are poisonous, whilst 

 others arc edible, but the problem to be 

 solved is, which are good, and which are 

 bad. To assist in the solution we have 

 given an unusual quantity of coloured illus- 

 trations of both kinds, and from these, 

 in combination with a few practical obser- 

 vations, we hope to render a satisfactory 

 answer. It must, at the outset^ be under- 

 stood that there are no general rules, 

 capable of universal application, whereby 

 edible may at once be distinguished from 

 poisonous fungi. Our task would be an 

 easy one if such a "royal road" could be 

 discovered, but unfortunately every effort 



