OF THE FUNGI. 117 



season ; at no period, other circumstances being favourable, 

 need the collector fear to return home from his excursions 

 empty-handed. 



His outfit is comprised in a few words : 



1. A bag, or rather knapsack, the back and front of 

 which are kept apart by two or three pieces of stout mill- 

 board — these same pieces dividing the interior into separate 

 divisions. The use of this knapsack is for the large thick 

 specimens — the Agarics (Plate xxiv.), Helvellids (Plate 

 xix. 98), and Lycoperdaceae (Plates xix. 99, xx.), also 

 pieces of wood on which minute Fungi have fixed them- 

 selves. 



2. An old book, in which to carry leaves and other thin 

 parts of plants ; the habitats of Pucciniaa, Lecytheae, &c. 

 An india-rubber ring will keep the whole together. 



3. A supply of chip and pill boxes, and small wide- 

 mouthed bottles. These are all useful for the transport 

 of the more delicate Fungi. 



4. Paper for wrapping up the objects. 



5. A strong sharp knife. 



Armed with these, and taking care to keep a good look- 

 out among trees and bushes, hedges and palings, the 

 collector may fairly expect to reap the reward of his zeal 

 in a well-filled knapsack. So strangely, indeed, do the 

 Fungi vary in form and size, that his eyes must be at the 

 same time both telescope and microscope. They must not 

 only be able to embrace, from a distance, the outline of the 

 great Bo vista, but they must peer among dead leaves and 

 decayed fragments of wood, and be able to detect the 

 faint traces which betray the presence of an Aregma or a 

 Triphragmium (Plate xxi. 102, 103). Every tree stem 

 must be diligently searched, and careful glances thrown 

 on the herbaceous plants around him : every broken limb 

 and rotting bough lying in his path should be lifted up 

 and examined above and below ; for it is on these, that 

 Sphasria (Plate xxi. 104), and Asterosporium (Plate xxn. 

 105), and a host of other curious forms delight to grow. 



