have been m ade will commend themselves to th e stu d en t as facilitating
th e study of organisms by no means easy of comprehension.
The arrangement of th e Hymenomycetes is based upon th e la te st
views of th e illustrious Fries, with such additions as were recommended
by Mr. Worthington Smith in a recent volume of th e “ Journal
of Botany.” In fact, Mr. Smith’s arrangement is adopted in toto, and
I availed myself of his experience by associating him with myself in
th is portion of th e work.
Dm-ing th e progress of th is “ Handbook” I have to acknowledge
with g ra titu d e th e suggestions, and aid, of numerous friends, espe-
ciaUy of Professor EUas Fries, th e Eev. M. J . Berkeley, M. A., C. E
Broome, Esq., F.L.S., W. G. Smith, Esq., F.L.S., Dr. E. Capron, Dr.
Bull, and H. C. Eavenal, Esq. Fo r th e measurements of th e spores
in th e Agaricini I am indebted to Mr. W. G. Smith, as weU as for th e
drawings of many of th e woodcuts. North American localities have
been inserted for some species, b u t I am aware th a t th is portion of
th e work is very imperfect.
I am conscious th a t I have no t produced a perfect work. Pu rsuing
th e study of Fu n g i as a recreation in th e intervals of th e daily
business of life, it was no easy ta sk to prepare and arrange th e
descriptions of nearly three thousand plants, compare specimens and
figui-es, and measure th e ir spores. I t would be presumption to
suppose th a t th is has in all cases been done without error, although
i t is hoped, with some confidence, th a t th e errors are few, and of no
g re a t importance.
Subscribers will not reg re t th a t, instead of 600 pages th ey will
receive more th a n 900; and instead of 200 figures upwards of 400.
No effort has been spared to make th is work worthy of th e ir confidence,
and, by th e publication of an occasional supplement, it is
hoped to m aintain it for many years as the Handbook” for every
stu d en t of B ritish Fungi.
Ujpper Holloway, July, 1871.
M. C. C.
H A N D B O O K
B E I T I S H F U N G I .
D iv is io n I . SPORIFERA. Spores naked.
I. Hymenium free, mostly naked, or soon exposed.
II. Hymenium enclosed in a peridium, ruptured
when mature........................................................
III. Spores naked, mostly terminal, on inconspicuous
threads, free, or enclosed in a perithecium.
IV. Spores naked, on conspicuous threads, rarely
compacted, small.................................................
Family I . HYMENOMYCETES.
Mycelium floccose, giving rise at once to a distinct hymenium,
or producing a variously shaped, naked, or volvate receptacle,
even, or hearing on its upper or under surface various folds,
plates, prickles, &c., clothed with fertile hymenial cells. Spores
naked, mostly quaternate, on distinct spicules. Berk. Introd. p.
351. Outl.p. 89.
Hymenium, normally inferior—
Fruit-bearing surface lamellose......................
Fruit-bearing surface, porous or tubular. .
Fruit-bearing surface clothed with prickles.
Fruit-bearing surface, even.............................. Aurictilanni.
Hymenium, superior or enoirling—
Agaricini.
Polyporei.
Hydnei.
Clavate or branched, rarely lobed................ Clavariei.
Lobed, convolute, or disc-like, gelatinous ;
(fertile threads not compacted into a
true hymenium)......................................... Tremellini.