90 
In conclusion, my thanks are due to those gentleman whose 
names I have mentioned in the course of this paper, for their 
kindness in supplying me with much valuable information, and their 
forbearance towards a troublesome correspondent ; also to the bird- 
stutfers of Norwich, particularly Mr. Gunn and Mr, Cole, who 
have given me every assistance and information in their power, 
and kindly afforded me many opportunities of examining in the 
flesh not only otters, hut other Norfolk animals. 
V. 
ON THE EDIBLE FUNGI FOUND IN NORFOLK. 
By Michael Beverley, M.D. 
Read 28th January, 1878. 
I have this evening to present to the Society a contribution 
towards a list of Edible Fungi found in Norfolk, and in doing so, 
I propose not only to call attention to these fungi in particular, 
but also to offer some remarks on edible fungi in general. 
In many European countries fungi form a staple article of food 
and commerce, and they are eaten either in the fresh, dried, or 
preserved state. 
In this country, although so many of the edible species exist, 
yet comparatively few are eaten ; this is explained jiartly by igno- 
rance, and where ignorance ends prejudice begins, and fortmiately 
so, for wliilst such a want of knowledge exists, prejudice and fear 
are, to a certain extent, the best safeguards against the dangers 
which unquestionably surround those who, in many instances, eat 
‘ mushrooms and toadstools ’ without any definite knowledge of 
either. 
In order to make my list of Norfolk Edible Fungi as complete 
as j)ossible, I wrote to several members of our Society for any 
particulars they could give me. The replies I obtained were mostly 
to the effect that the writers had never taken up the study of fungi, 
and were, consequcntlj’-, ignorant about them. One gentleman to 
