BOOKS OP THE QUARTER. 
91 
tolerably fair foundation. To remove the very widely-spread, but incor- 
rect, ideas prevalent in the minds of the people on this subject, by the 
dissemination of well-ascertained facts, tending to prove that many species 
of mushrooms are edible, is the task to which Dr. Badham addressed him- 
self some years since. What success his efforts mbt with remains to be 
shown. It is, however, to be presumed that the results were satisfactory, 
else we should hardly have been presented with a new edition, which 
differs in scarcely any particular from the first one. Such as it is, how- 
ever, it will, no doubt, be read by those interested in the cultivation of 
fungwses, and therefore we proceed to analyze it briefly. The chapters 
devoted to the general history, qualities, &c., of the group are instructive, 
but are evidently the produce rather of “ scissors and paste ” operations 
than of any originality upon the part of the author ; and as the statements 
made are frequently given on very equivocal authority, we are forced to 
accept them cum grano salis. One is gratified to learn that the value- 
even on an estimate considerably below the mark — of Roman fungi is 
£4,000 per annum ; but when this fact is adduced as an argument in 
support of the home-growth of fungi, we feel compelled to remark that 
there are a few trifling differences between the climatal conditions of 
Great Britain and Italy. The etymologies of the various generic and 
specific titles are well exposed, and the origin of the word Toad-stool is 
nicely explained as being derived from the German tod , which signifies 
death. That fungi are very universally- spread organisms is demonstrated 
in numerous examples, and among others allusion is made to the Geastrum 
which Withering found upon the topmost pinnacle of St. Paul’s. Fan- 
tastic are the forms assumed by these curious members of the vegetable 
kingdom. “ Some shoot out into branches like seaweed ; some puff them- 
selves into puff-balls ; some thrust their heads into mitres ; these assume 
the shape of a cup ; and those of a wine-funnel these are stilted on 
a high leg ; and those have not a leg to stand on ; some are shell-shaped ; 
many bell-shaped ; and some hang upon their stalks like a lawyer’s wig.” 
Descriptions of the odours and tastes, expansive power, motion, dimen- 
sions, uses, and modes of distinguishing between poisonous and deleterious 
specimens are not wanting. The origin of the so-called “ Fairy-rings ” is 
indirectly attributed to one of three causes, which certainly seem adequate 
to their production ; and before entering upon the classification of these 
plants, an outlinear view of their development is added. This sketch is 
not particularly remarkable for its accuracy, and were it not for the note 
appended to the book, we should have commented more at length upon it. 
The rest of the volume is occupied with descriptions of the species, and of 
the method of preparing them as articles of diet ; but owing to the absence 
of any simple scheme by which — after the manner adopted in a flora— a 
species may be easily named, the book cannot be safely employed (with a 
view to the edibility of fungi) by an unskilled person. The twelve beau- 
tifully-coloured plates may offer some assistance toward identification, but 
plates even of the best description are often very deceitful. 
