160 
THE HAPPY FUNGUS-HUNTER. 
July, 1892. 
although, if that name be applied to their stock, the stall- 
keepers indignantly deny the charge. As to the mushroom 
ketchup of commerce, only those who have seen it prepared 
could possibly say what species of fungi (not to mention 
grubs) do not enter into its composition. 
Not only those who wish to be taught the joyous art and 
mystery of fungus-eating will find interest in these pages, but 
also those who like to learn somewhat about the curiosities of 
the vegetable world. For Dr. Cooke speaks with that fulness 
of knowledge which can only come from the personal 
acquaintance with his subject gained in a long course of out¬ 
door study. 
The second work here noticed is of a different character, 
though of the same size and appearance. Its title, “British 
Fungi,” is very misleading, unless it is to be considered as 
the first of a series of volumes treating in turn of all the 
fungi of this country. For this volume is confined to the 
Phycomycetes ( i.e ., the “Pin-Fungi” or Moulds) and the 
Ustilagineae (or “ Smuts”). To this is prefixed a “ General 
Introduction,” which treats, in a rather unsatisfactory way, of 
the Morphology, Geographical Distribution, Collection and 
Preservation, Examination and Classification of Fungi. This 
seems to strengthen the suspicion that the author intends 
this volume as the first of a series, although no hint to that 
effect is given on the title-page. The suspicion is rendered 
almost certain by the inclusion of the Ustilagineae, in spite 
of the fact that a monograph (already reviewed in the 
“ Midland Naturalist,” vol. xii., p. 46) has been recently 
published on that group by an author better qualified to deal 
with them ; to that monograph, indeed, the present work 
makes no addition worth mentioning, while in many respects 
it is decidedly inferior. It seems a pity that space should be 
wasted in going over the same ground uselessly for the second 
time, while so much fresh ground remains to be broken. 
It seems a pity, also, that this volume should be disfigured, 
as too many by English writers on the Fungi are disfigured, 
by obvious lack of scholarship. No German or French work, 
at any rate would admit such blunders as we find here : 
“ lactens,” “ Dityuchus,” “ Salprolegnia,” “ P. agremones,” 
&c., while some of the quoted German book-titles also are an 
illegible and unmeaning jumble. 
One turns with a sigh of relief to the section devoted to 
the Phycomycetes, for here at least is new ground which has 
not been worked over since the publication of the “Hand¬ 
book ” in 1871. Had this section been published by itself, in 
about eighty pages, for a few pence, it would have been a 
blessing indeed to the working mycologist, for it collects 
