Clxiv PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
injurious to plants; a few attack insects, animals, or man; some are 
useful, e.g. t mushrooms, the tree-mycorhiza, and the tubercles of 
leguminous plants. The numerous fungi living on dead or decaying 
matter are of secondary economic importance, and therefore are 
almost entirely omitted; certain of them are, however, represented 
by the coloured sketches of Hymenomycetes in another part of the 
Museum. 
“ In the space allotted, it was impossible to do more than show 
examples of the chief groups, but the case should prove a useful key 
to sources of further information. Tubeuf’s ‘ Diseases of Plants,’ in 
the Library of the Perthshire Society of Natural Science, is the hand¬ 
book used in preparing the case, and it is recommended that those 
whose interest is more than superficial should go over the case with 
this book beside them. 
“ In grouping the fungi, it was thought advisable to use an arrange¬ 
ment based on scientific classification. This was the easier because 
such an arrangement agreed roughly with popular nomenclature and 
with the class of plant attacked. 
“There are three main divisions:—i, Bacteria; 2, the Slime- 
Fungi or Myxomycetes; 3, the true Fungi. 
“Classes 1 and 2 are minute forms and unsuited for museum 
purposes, hence only a small area has been given to each. 
“ The true Fungi occupy almost the whole case. These are sub¬ 
divided into five groups, with almost equal space allotted to each :— 
a, Peronosporeae, the False or Downy Mildews; 
b , Ascomycetes; 
c, Uredineae, the Rusts; 
d , Ustilagineae, the Smuts and Bunts; 
e , Basidiomycetes, the Toadstools and allies. 
“a, the Peronosporeae, being a typical and somewhat primitive 
group, are placed in the upper part of the case, so as to allow of ready 
comparison with the other groups. 
“ c and d are well-defined, easily recognised, and common fungi, 
already well distinguished by their popular names of Rusts and Smuts 
and Bunts respectively. 
“b and e are well-defined scientific groups, but they present consider¬ 
able variations in their external appearance and the injuries inflicted, 
while popular nomenclature does not assist in their identification. 
“ The arrangement also affords a rough key to the class of plant 
acting as host. Herbaceous plants are attacked chiefly by fungi from 
groups a , c, d, with a few from b, and fewer from e. Tree fungi will be 
found principally under the Ascomycetes (b) and Basidiomycetes (<?), 
a few in the Uredinese (c), but none under either of the two remaining 
groups. 
“ The case will not be complete till all the economic fungi ot 
importance to Perthshire are represented. There is still ample 
opportunity for members to contribute such specimens. These 
should be preserved so as to retain as far as possible their natural 
appearance, or be forwarded at once as fresh material for preservation 
at the Museum. 
