130 Mas see. — A Revision of the 
that in the genus Coprinus we have, in reality, the remnant of 
a primitive group of Fungi, from which have descended the 
entire modern group of Agaricineae having wind-borne spores ; 
and which, on the other hand, can be traced back to the still 
more primitive, subterranean Fungi which are the common 
ancestors of the entire group of the Basidiomycetes. 
Evidences of the antiquity of Coprinus are seen in the 
world-wide distribution of the genus, and the limited area 
occupied by species ; each large mass of land, and also many 
islands, having a very high percentage of endemic species. 
As an illustration of this, we may state that there are 117 
known European species, only eighteen of which extend to 
other countries ; and even amongst the European species, 
a considerable number are restricted to narrow areas. The 
half-dozen European species having a wide distribution 
beyond Europe are just those most associated with agri- 
culture. occurring in farm-yards, dung-hills, &c., and have in 
all probability accompanied man in his migrations to new 
countries, whence they are recorded as occurring in similar 
habitats. 
There is no differentiation of the hyphae into a laticiferous 
system ; an entire absence of clear, bright colours, as also of 
those acrid and poisonous protective secretions which charac- 
terize the members of the higher Agaricineae. Certain species 
of Coprinus , as C. comatus and C. atramentarius , are edible, 
and amongst the safest and best of edible Fungi, and pro- 
bably every species is edible, only owing to their ephemeral 
nature, and the absence of flesh, they do not commend them- 
selves. The primary veil, when present, exhibits a primitive 
structure, not being sufficiently firm in texture to form a loose, 
sheathing volva at the base of the stem, and the portion carried 
upon the pileus usually consists of evanescent squamules, or 
a cobweb-like layer which soon vanishes. The thin flesh of 
the pileus, like that of the gills, deliquesces at maturity. 
Notwithstanding the primitive simplicity of structure, it is 
highly probable that the five types of progressive develop- 
ment explained as present in the Agaricineae were also 
