152 
MIMICRY IN FUNGI. 
scarcely unexceptional instances, as compared with each other, but 
either of the first may be taken with either of the last pair, and 
the coincidence of colour, form, size, mode of growth, and even 
habitat, is complete. With any of these the recently described 
Agaricus, Clitocybe, Sadleri, with white spores, have a 
striking resemblance. So that here we have five yellow species 
found growing on wood, to which three or four others might be 
added, were they not so closely allied to those already named,* and 
an ordinary observer would regard all as the same species. 
There is, however, a small Agaric which is known to the majority 
of mycologists from its strong odour of stinking fish {Agaricus 
cucumis). It grows on the ground and upon fragments of dead 
wood, and has red-brown spores. Yet there is an imitator in a 
small fungus with white spores found in just the same localities 
with the identical fishy odour. According to all authority and 
experience the difference in the colour of the spores is not a mere 
difference of species, but indicates quite a separate and distinct 
group of species. 
Two other species, one having white spores {Agaricus, Clitocybe, 
parilis) and the other pink spores {Agaricus, Clitopilus, popinalis), 
have very strong external resemblances, and yet they are often found 
growing together. And two very similar forms, each with an ex- 
centric stem, found growing on trunks, are so much alike in general 
aspect, that it is absolutely impossible to distinguish the one from 
the other, except by the colour of the spores, which, in one instance, 
are white {Agaricus, Pleurotus, ostreatus), and the other rosy {Aga- 
ricus, Claudopus, euosmus). They will grow together on the same 
tree, and in the same season of the year, whereas the white spored 
species is edible, and the pink spored one is said to be deleterious. 
We might also instance Agaricus, Tricholoma, nudus, a hand- 
some violet species, which, when well grown, is scarce to be dis- 
tinguished from Cortinarius violaceus, except that, in the former, 
the spores are white, and in the latter rusty. Then also there are 
Agaricus, Tricholoma, russula, and Hygrophorus erubescens, often so 
much alike that some mycologists contend that both are the same 
species. A similar remark applies also to Agaricus, Mycena, bala- 
ninus and Marasmius erythropus. In fact, we need not multiply 
instances, as every mycologist knows from experience that very 
many of the species have their analogues in other sections from 
which, at a casual glance, it is difficult to distinguish them. 
Taking a still wider range of comparison, the Balanophorece, a 
family of flowering plants, are in their parasitic habits, form, colour- 
ing, and odour, close imitators of fungi. And even if we confine 
ourselves to the Cryptogamia, we find amongst Alg^, in the species 
of Nostoc, a great likeness to Tremella amongst fungi. And so 
again in Lichens, we have Lecidea scarcely distinguishable, except 
by experts, from Patellaria, a genus of fungi. And Boeomyces 
amongst Lichens resembles Stilbum in Fungi, as also the Graphi- 
deous Lichens are imitated in Hysterium, and Platygrapha in 
* As Ag. inopus, Ay, epixanthus and Ay. elceodes. 
