10 
ON MIMICRY IN FUNGI. 
found buried some inches below it. A fungus which lives and dies 
below ground has but a very poor chance of scattering its spores 
compared to other fungi. It is true that insect larvae are con- 
stantly found it these fungi, but the chance of a volant insect 
emerging from a hypogean fungus and carrying with it spores that 
still retain their power of germination can be but slight. But 
we do find these subterranean species eagerly sought for by animals 
notably by pigs, and also by the smaller rodents. 
Mr. Broome has found Hypogcei * gathered up by one of the field 
mice. He did u not see the animal, but it was evident from the runs 
(underground), which converged to the store that the animal had 
collected them.” It was not unreasonable to suppose that the 
spores of these fungi should retain their power of gemination 
after having passed through the intestinal canal of these animals, 
when we consider how abundantly mushrooms are produced upon 
horse dung. In fact some fungologists go so far as to say that 
the spores of Agaricus campestris will not produce active mycelium 
unless they have been subjected to this treatment. 
Fungal Odour-mimicry. — Not only do the vast majority of 
fungi possess peculiar and in many instances characteristic odours 
of their own, but we find them mimicking the odours of other vege- 
tables, of animals, and also of other substances. 
Confining ourselves to British species we have the following 
examples. These, although perhaps now collected for the first time 
are not mere fanciful similitudes jotted down on the spur of the ' 
moment, but are almost all of them given in our standard text- 
books of fungology, and have been recognised as long as the 
species themselves have. 
Vf.getable Odour-mimicries. — The odour of melilot ^Melt- 
lotus officinalis , Linn.) is possessed powerfully and persistently by 
Lactarius camphor atus, Fr. ; Hydnuni graveolens, Dell; and Hyd- 
num tomentosum , Linn. 
The odour of aniseed ( Pimpiuella anisum) is possessed by 
Agaricus fragrans , Sow. ; Trametes suaveolens , Fr. ; T. odora, Fr. ; 
jPolypomts salicinus, Fr. ; and Hydnum suaveolens, Scop. 
The odour of field-mint ( Mentha arvensis, L.) is possessed by 
Lentinus Vulpinus, Fr. 
The odour of tarragon {Artemesia dracunculus, L.) is possessed 
by Agaricus euosmus, Berk. 
The odour of peppermint ( Mentha piperita, Huds.) is pos- 
sessed, as well as the taste, by Eygrophorus aromaticus, Berk. 
The odour of garlic ( Allium sativum ) is possessed by Maras- 
mius porreus , Fr., and M. scorodonius, Fr. 
The odour of radishes ( Raphanis sativus) is possessed, as well as 
the taste, by Agaricus put us, Pers. Tuber puberulum, B. & Br., has 
the same odour. 
* Octaviania asterosperma, Yitt., the quotation is from a letter Mr. 
Broome sent me on the subject. 
