in his introduction, to present typical forms of nearly all of the genera of the 
gilled mushrooms, and he has succeeded admirably. His material is well 
chosen, and there is abundance of it, some common species, such as Agcir- 
ictis campestris , Amanita phalloides , A. muscaria , and Coprinus coma fas , 
being shown at different stages of development and in a variety of aspects. 
The few colored plates attempted are on the whole acceptable, but we can 
be glad that they are not more numerous. 
It is evident, however, from a study of Mr. Atkinson’s plates, as it has 
been from the photographs of Mr. Lloyd of Cincinnati, that the camera 
can be relied on for more than generic distinctions. Except in a small per¬ 
centage of cases, a good photograph will preserve even the individuality 
of a species. To attain this object, care and skill must be shown in the 
collection and arrangement of material, as in Mr. Atkinson’s work. With 
such photographs, for instance, as those of Hydnum coralioides , H. erin- 
acens , and H. caput-ursi, in the hands of amateurs, we may hope that the 
reports of finding H. caput-Medusae will become much less frequent. 
There is strong inclination, then, to speak only in praise of Mr. Atkin¬ 
son’s illustrations. If fault were to be found at all, it would be with figures 
85 ( Armillaria mellea ), 123 ( Cantharellus cibarius), and 201 ( Dictyophora 
duplicata ), which certainly do not adequately present these species. 
The descriptive part of the text is much more than a running accom¬ 
paniment to the illustrations. Most, of the descriptions are from actual 
observations of the author, and are not mere copies of the stingy, techni¬ 
cal diagnoses of ordinary systematic works. Besides ample notes of color, 
structure, variability, habitat, etc., are frequently appended details of 
microscopic structure. It must be said, however, that comparison of 
related species would be facilitated by greater fullness in some cases. Why: 
for example, may we not have the spore-measurements of Amanita phal¬ 
loides to compare with those of A. Jtoccocephala P To be sure the meas¬ 
urements of other observers can easily be referred to, but we want to com¬ 
pare Mr. Atkinson with Mr. Atkinson. 
Besides the systematic part of the book, which forms the bulk of the 
volume, there are introductory chapters on structure and development, 
copiously illustrated, the substance of which has already appeared in the 
Bulletins of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station. 
There are also chapters on “The Collection and Preservation of the Fleshy 
Fungi,” on the “Selection and Preservation of Mushrooms for the Ta¬ 
ble,” on “Recipes for Cooking Mushrooms” (by Mrs. Sarah Tyson 
Rorer), on the “Chemistry and Toxicology of the Fungi” (by J. F. Clark), 
and on “Structural Characters” (by II. Hasselbring), all of which are 
admirable in their way and increase the value of the book to people at 
large. 
In spite of its good qualities, the book as a whole somehow lacks sym¬ 
metry and unity. It is not aimed at any one class of readers. In the 
main intended for popular use, it yet contains, perhaps to the surprise of 
some botanists, descriptions of several proposed new species, though the 
first medium at hand has often enough before been utilized for such a pur¬ 
pose. Ordinary readers, too, can hardly be interested in illustrations of 
such species as Boletus obsonium, Pleurotus suiphuroides, and Armillaria 
ciurantia , especially when they will search the pages in vain for many of 
the commonest species which awaken prompt inquiry, the moment the 
eager mushroom hunter gets his eyes open. Scant mention of species, 
such as often occurs, as on pages 48 ( Panaeolus fimicola , etc.) 90 ( Clitocybe 
cvathiformis) 152 ( Pholiota aurivella ), and elsewhere, is of no possible use 
in such a book. It gives no information to anybody. A puzzle in syn- 
onvmy is offered to inexperienced readers on pages 16 and 17, where the 
