42 
BRITISH EDIBLE FDNGI. 
sary to say about them may be gathered from the preface, which is 
to the following effect : — 
“ Fungus eating is on the increase, thanks to Field Clubs and 
Fungus Forays, but the complaint has been heard for many years 
that no sufficient handbook for the guidance of young or inex- 
perienced mycophagists could be found in the English language. 
One or two laudable attempts have been made, but they have left 
much to be desired, and for the past ten years my fungus-eating 
friends have continued to urge me, as one of the oldest fungus 
eaters, to give the results of my experience. Admirable as 
Dr. Badham’s book was when published, and fully as it answered 
its purpose then, no one will contend that it is ‘ up to date.’ 
However, the world is large enough for both of us. The list given 
at the end will represent all the kinds that I remember to have 
eaten, and as sixty-five will be considered sufficient to establish my 
claim to be a fungus eater, it may also be regarded as sufficient to 
exonerate me from any charge of presumption or inexperience. It 
has usually been the custom to include poisonous and edible fungi 
in one book, but from this custom I have diverged, for two or three 
reasons. It is not commendable to popularize knowledge of 
vegetable poisons easy to procure. It is not advisable to mix the 
descriptions and figures of good and bad species without distinct 
labelling, as on a chemist’s bottle, of ‘ poison ’ across each noxious 
species. And it is not desirable to increase the bulk and cost of a 
little book which was intended in furtherance of * fungus eating.’ 
Copious notes have been added on the preparation of the different 
species for the table, some old and some new, but all practical. By 
the aid of the descriptions in writing, as untechnical as possible, 
and the coloured figures, it is hoped that all reasonable care has 
been taken to prevent error or danger in eating mushrooms or 
toadstools. If I have rendered the art of fungus eating easier or 
safer I shall have accomplished my object. 
“ M. C. Cooke.” 
AGARICUS GIGANTEUS AND A. MAXIMUS. 
By M. C. Cooke. 
We have heard recently that in some quarter or other an excep- 
tion has been taken to the accuracy of our figures, under these 
names, in the “ Illustrations of British Fungi.” Doubtless it is 
always easy to doubt or deny, but not so easy to prove. Accord- 
ing to our own judgment we were accurate in our determination, 
although not inclined to be positive that our judgment is superior to 
that of any one else with an approximate experience. In this deter- 
mination the Rev. M. J. Berkeley expressed his acquiescence at the 
time. Hence the figures represent fairly what we both conceived 
to be the two species. Against this decision an adverse opinion has 
