PREFACE. 



THE design of this work is to provide the English 

 student with the means of acquiring a knowledge of the 

 Discomycetes of Britain. The fifth volume of " English 

 Flora," Berkeley's "Outlines," and Cooke's " Handbook," 

 each well served this purpose in its time, and I indulge 

 the hope that the present work may be equally useful. 



No trouble has been spared in verifying and extend- 

 ing microscopic observations of the morphology, for in 

 no instance where an authentic specimen was accessible 

 has the opportunity of examining it been neglected. 

 The readiness with which the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, my 

 lamented friend the late Mr. C. E. Broome, and Dr. M. C. 

 Cooke have entrusted to me some of their unique 

 specimens, calls for my grateful acknowledgment ; as 

 does the kindness of the Kew and British Museum 

 authorities, in allowing me at all times ready access to 

 their important herbaria 



When Dr. M. C. Cooke became aware of my intention 

 to undertake this work, he not only generously handed 

 over to me the whole of his valuable manuscript notes, 



