853 



RECORDS OF AUSTRALIAN FUNGI. No. i. 



Bv J. Burton Cleland, M.D., and Edwin Cheel, Botanical 

 Assistant, Botanic Gardens, Sydney. 



We propose to record, from time to time, under the above 

 heading, various fungi, more especially Basidiomycetes, that have 

 passed through our hands. NearJy all the specimens referred to 

 belong either to our private collections, or to that in the National 

 Herbarium, Sydney. In recording specimens, we propose to do 

 so in such a way, that the actual plants may be identified from 

 our reference, and from a note attached to them citing the refer- 

 ence. In searching the literature on Australian fungi, Ave have 

 found records of many species, but rarely any means by which 

 the identification can be checked, as, for instance, by examina- 

 tion of the actual plants identified. In consequence, some, pro- 

 bablv many, mistakes have been made, which now cannot be 

 rectified. We propose to give our successors every assistance 

 in criticising our decision.s. In such a difficult subject, at pre- 

 sent in an almost chaotic state, mistakes are bound to be made 

 bv us, but we want them to be retrie\able in the lioht of further 

 and fuller knowledge. 



COPRINUS. 



CoPRiNUS coMATUS Fries. — Recorded bv Cooke for Victoria 

 and for this State by one of us (E.G.) in Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. 

 Wales, 1907, xxxii., 475. We have met with this esculent species 

 on several occasions during winter and early spring, on Milson 

 Island, Hawkesbury River (July), and in Sydney. It is quite 

 common in the Botanic Gardens and Domain during the month 

 of June. (Specimens in the National Herbarium under No. 56). 

 During 1914, it was very abundant, growing near the I'oadside 

 at Kensington, Sydney, in large tufts (spores 14-15-0 x 8-5-9/x). 

 Young specimens were cooked and eaten, after scraping ofi' the 



