ON MIMICRY IN FUNGI 
13 
bonatius , A. & S. ; Aqaricus naucinus, Fr. and Agaricus cretaceus , 
Fr. The branched Clavarice and Lachnocladium , the club -shaped 
Clavarice, and Geoglossum or Torrubia , Podaxon , and Co prinus .* 
Scleroderma geaster , Fr., mimics the Geasters, while conversely 
an unexpanded specimen of Geaster coliformis. P., looks so exactly 
like a washed specimen of Scleroderma vulgare , Fr., that I once 
had such an one in my possession for more that a week without 
discovering what it was. 
I have no special remarks to make on the present occasion upon 
these curious .resemblances, leaving what I may have to say for a 
future communication ; but a very remarkable series of mimicries 
exists which must be mentioned — namely, that which exists be- 
tween many edible and poisonous fungi. The number of accidents 
which have happened from eating poisonous, in mistake for^ edible 
fungi, many of which have been followed by a fatal result, shows 
that this mimicry is not a mere figment of the imagination. These 
lamented accidents have cast an opprobrium upon the whole fungus 
kingdom as articles of food, which is quite unmerited. The sub- 
joined table shows at a glance, these mimicries, although there 
may be some species included with the poisonous species whose 
toxic qualities enthusiastic fungophagists may take exception to on 
the ground that they have never yet caused death : — 
Edible Species. 
Agaricus caesarius, Scop. 
Agaricus ovoideus, Bull. 
Agaricus rubescens, Fr. 
Agaricus procerus, Scop. 
Agaricus ostreatus, Jacq. 
Agaricus campestris, Linn. 
Lactarius deliciosus, Fr. 
Russula lepida, Fr. 
Russula alutacea, Fr. 
Cantharellus cibarius, Fr. 
Marasmius oreades, Fr. 
Fistulina hepatica, Fr. 
Poisonous Species. 
Agaricus muscarius, Linn. 
Agaricus phalloides, Fr. 
Agaricus pantherinus, D.Q. 
Agaricus rachodes, Vitt. 
Agaricus euosmus, Berk. 
Agaricus melaspermus, Bull. 
Agaricus fastibilis, F'r. 
Agaricus Taylori, Berk. 
Lactarius torminosus, Fr. 
Russula rubra, Fr. 
Russula emetica, Fr. 
Cantharellus aurantius, Fr. 
Marasmius urens, Fr. 
Polyporus quercinus, Fr. 
It is not assumed that any of these species copy each other so 
accurately as to present any difficulty to the scientific botanist in 
discriminating them, but in most instances so close is the resem- 
blance that the fungi must be gathered, and the colour of the 
spores and other characters noticed, before a definite opinion can 
be given. Of course objection will be taken to A. rachodes being 
included with the poisonous species, as there are persons still 
living who have eaten it. It is generally admitted, however, to be 
greatly inferior to A. procerus. Mr. Berkeley holds that “ it is not 
* See M. C. Cooke on Mimicry in Fungi, “ Grevillea,” Vol. ix, p. 151 ; 
and W. G. Smith on Mimicry in Fungi, “ Gardener’s Chronicle,” 10th Feb., 
1877, and 16th Nov., 1872. 
