LITERATURE, 
43 
Hymenomycetes themselves we observe that they commence with 
the Tremellineae and pass on to the Agaricinae. Topsy-turvydom 
is supreme throughout, but, so long as it is merely a complete 
reversal, there is not so much to object to provided it is logically 
carried out. In this case it should not have been the Basidio- 
mycetes which occupied the first volume, but the lowest forms of 
fungus life, and the simplest, such as the Schizomycetes and 
Saccharomycetes, passing gradually upwards and onwards to the 
Basidiomycetes or Ascomycetes, whichever might be held to be the 
highest form. Passing aside this question of order as one in which 
each may be persuaded in his own mind, we come to another change 
which has the sanction of continental authorities, but now for the 
first time introduced into British Mycology, and that is the. 
constituting of all the sub-genera of the large genus Agaricus as 
genera, and thus ranking such a group as Pleurotus, for instance, 
as of equal value with Lactarius or Lenzites. This is not the 
place to discuss such a question, but we contend that the sub- 
genera of Agaricus , as recognized by Fries, are not equivalent in 
rank to such genera as Schizopliyllum , Cantharellus , Cortinarius , 
and the rest Of the genera of the Agaricini , and should not be 
regarded as such. And here our growling comes to an end, for 
although our differences may only resolve themselves into questions 
of private opinion, it is but justice to ourselves to intimate that we 
have not yet changed our views as to systematic sequence or the 
relative value of genera and sub-genera. Up to now we have 
afforded to “ keep a conscience,” and hope to be able to do so up 
to the end. 
With these reservations we are prepared to welcome the 
“ British Fungus Flora ” at a time when, we fear, that the 
systematic and persistent study of fungi is at a lower ebb in this 
country than it has been for many years. It is not too much to 
hope that a complete work will give an impetus to study and 
increase the number of students. The type and style of printing 
is all that could be desired. The illustrations, if rough and simple, 
are sufficient for the discrimination of genera, and the indices satis- 
factory. The descriptions of species are not confined to a bare 
diagnosis, but seem to be ample and to embody all essential 
particulars, including spore measurements, which of late years have 
been elevated to an almost undue importance. It may be objected, 
perhaps, that the quotation of authorities, and cross references to 
others, and well known books are too limited, but it must be 
remembered that any considerable increase in this direction must 
necessarily have expanded the bulk, and added to the cost of the 
work. In our humble opinion such full descriptions as are to be 
found under the various species of Boletus , for example, are a full 
compensation for a meagre synonymy, and similar smaller sins of 
omission. Personally we consider that the consecutive numbering 
of genera and species is a decided advantage, but that is a question 
of detail and not an article of faith. Undoubtedly we are prepared 
