124 THE. AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
devoured by the natives of Persia, Armenia, and Tartary, 
whenever it occurs, has been identified as a lichen, which 
at times appears in prodigious quantities. 
DISCUSSION ON PROTECTIVE AND ATTRACTIVE 
MIMICRY IN PLANTS. 
By Epwin CHEEL. 
It has already been pointed out by C. B. Plowright, 
an eminent authority on Fungi, that the subject of mimi- 
cry in the various kingdoms of Nature is one of very 
ereat interest, especially since the evolutionist has shown 
its importance to the well-being, or even perhaps almost 
to the existence of certain specific forms. It may be that 
the more striking manifestations of protective mimicry are 
to be found in the animal kingdom; but all mimicry is 
not protective, neither is it by any means confined to the 
animal kingdom. 
In working upon the subject, it is exceedingly diffi- 
cult to avoid being led away by the imagination beyond 
the limits of reason, to fancy forms which do not exist, 
and to see similarities where there are none. 
Of the hundreds of species of Agaricacese, compara- 
tively few are of a grass-green colour. A. odorus and A. 
oeruginosus are the two commonest green-coloured species 
in Europe, but why these two species should simulate their 
grassy surroundings has not yet been explained. It is 
a well-known fact that Agarics as a rule are very showy 
and attractive, as they are usually ofavarious shades of 
brown, grey, pink, reddish, and purple. 
It has been suggested that the Pezize group of fungi, 
which includes the well-known Peziza vesciculosa, occa- 
sionally seen around the Sydney district, and many other 
species usually found on decaying vegetable matter, and 
on trunks of trees, avail themselves of protective mimicry. 
Worthington Smith has pointed out that Hypholoma 
fascicularis mimics H. capnoides, and that Clitocybe deal- 
batus mimics Clitopilus orcella; also that Hebeloma fasti- 
bilis mimics Psalliota campestris. The latter is the well- 
known edible mushroom. There are a number of instances 
on record in which certain species of fungi mimic the 
odours of various substances, such as vegetables, animal, 
and even their own allies. 
These odours are of the most diverse  similitudes, 
which to some people are very offensive, while to others 
agreeable. A few instances may be cited as follows:— 
