The books which have been consulted in the preparation of this work are, “British Fungi,” by Rev. John Stevenson; “British Fungus-Flora,” by George Massee; “Mushrooms and their Uses,” and “Boleti of the United States,” by Professor Charles H. Peck, State Botanist of New York; “Moulds, Mildew and Mushrooms,” by Professor L. M. Underwood; and a pamphlet by Mr. C. G. Lloyd, entitled “The Volvæ of the United States.”

No attempt has been made to do more than to put in popular language the statements of experienced botanists, and so to arrange the matter as to aid beginners in their work.

Thanks are due to Mr. Harold Wingate for his suggestions and corrections of the manuscript; to Mr. C. G. Lloyd for permission to print from his photographs; to Miss Laura C. Detwiller for her paintings from nature, which have been here reproduced; and also to Mrs. Harrison Streeter and Miss Mary W. Nichols for their encouragement of the undertaking and suggestions in furtherance of its success.

CONTENTS.

Transcriber’s Note:
The structure of the Table of Contents does not correspond perfectly to the book itself, but all page numbers are correct.

PAGE
[ Introduction,]13
[ Mushrooms,]23
[ Antiquity of Fungi,]23
[ Manner of Growth,]24
[ Odor,]26
[ Duration,]27
[ Uses,]27
[ Habitat,]28
[ Structure and growth,]29
[ Mycelium,]31
[ The Stem,]34
[ The Gills,]34
[ The Spores,]36
[ The Volva and Veil,]37
[ The Tubes or Pores,]38
[ Classification of Fungi,]39
[ Distinctive Characteristics of Genera.]
[ Hymenomycetes,]41
[ Gasteromycetes,]59
[ Ascomycetes,]64
[ By Color of the Spores,]72
[ General Helps to the Memory,]68
[ Descriptions of Fungi arranged According to Color of Cap only, ]77
[ Red or Pink,]77
[ Yellow or Orange,]88
[ Gray,]100
[ Green,]106
[ White,]107
[ Brown,]115
[ Purple or Violet,]129
[ Description of Some Familiar Mushrooms, without regard to color, ]131
[ Direction for Using Keys,]147
[ Key to Hymenomycetes,]149
[ Key to Polyporei,]152
[ Key to Hydnei,]152
[ Key to Thelephorei,]152
[ Key to Clavariei,]153
[ Key to Gasteromycetes and Ascomycetes,]153
[ Glossary,]155
[ Index to Descriptions of Fungi,]161
[ Guide for Determining Genera of Agarics in four Tables, ]165

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.