PREFACE 



IN 1905 the Trustees acquired the manuscript descriptions drawn up 

 by Mr. Worthington G. Smith, when preparing the fine series of 

 coloured drawings of British Fungi which are exhibited in the 

 Public Gallery of the Department of Botany. The descriptions 

 were accompanied by line drawings illustrating the characters of 

 each genus. In 1907 the Trustees gave permission for their 

 publication in the form of the present Handbook, which it is hoped 

 will prove a useful introduction to the study in the field of the 

 larger British Fungi. Of the numerous introduced species all that 

 have appeared in the open air are included; but those occurring 

 in greenhouses and stoves are omitted, except those which con- 

 tinually reappear, and those which stray into gardens. 



Mr. Smith himself and Mr. W. E. St. John Brooks, Assistant in 

 the Department, have given valuable help in the preparation of the 

 book for the press. 



A. B. RENDLE. 



DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY, 

 BRITISH MUSEUM. 



October, 1908. 



