460 Massee.—A Monograph of the genus Inocybe , Kars ten. 
mycologist is not always deceived by such a superficial change, but less 
experienced persons often are. The beginner fails to locate in the ‘ Laceri ’ 
a Fungus which in reality belongs to the ‘ Velutini/ and a ‘ new species ’ is 
the result. 
Other causes leading to confusion, and quite unnecessary multiplication 
of names, are as follows. 
Personally I consider that colour should not constitute part of a specific 
diagnosis ; however, as a matter of fact, by almost common consent it does 
so. Where the colours are clear and well defined, as in many genera, there 
is no serious objection to the practice, but in the genus Inocybe , where the 
colour of dozens of closely allied species is some shade of brown, 
the attempts of different authors to convey to others the particular shade 
of brown is, to say the least, perplexing. When a definition of odours 
is attempted matters are still worse. As an example, Weinmann (Fung. 
Ross, p. 194) says of Inocybe Trinii , his own species, ‘ odore valde suavis et 
fere caryophyllaceus ! ’ Bresadola (Fung. Trid., ii, p. 14), speaking of the 
same Fungus, says, ‘odore forti terreo.’ Numerous such differences of 
opinion are extant, and the obvious conclusion is that mycologists cannot 
define the characteristics of a smell in words. 
Schaeffer, Persoon, Bulliard, Bolton, Krombholz, and other pioneers in 
mycology, have left evidence of their untiring enthusiasm in the pursuit 
of their favourite study, in the form of coloured figures of many hundred 
different kinds of Fungi. These they named and described to the best of 
their ability ; but it must be admitted that in numerous instances the 
figures are somewhat grotesque, and in the best cases rarely give more 
than a general idea of the species intended, from an artistic rather than 
a scientific standpoint. Again, the principal characteristic of the specific 
descriptions furnished by the above-named authors is their extreme brevity, 
which in many instances renders identification of the exact species they had 
in view somewhat uncertain, or often practically impossible for ordinary 
mortals to accomplish. 
Unfortunately for mycology there have of late years always been two 
or three extraordinary people amongst us, who appear to be firmly convinced 
that their special function on earth is to indicate, without possibility of 
error, the exact species the old authors had in view. By such clairvoyants, 
species of Fungi that have been known by a particular name for a consider- 
able period of time, and universally accepted, are suddenly discovered to be 
nothing more than the identical kind figured and described by some ancient 
author. An exchange of names follows, and the discoverer rewards himself 
by adding his own name after the new combination. 
Even this method could be accepted if there was any hope for finality, 
but in the absence of types, and the figures and descriptions being as stated 
above, there is room for no such hope. 
