PREFACE. 



In 1797 Sowerby published his " Coloured Figures of British 

 Fungi," since which time no eflfort has been made to produce 

 figures of all the known species of the larger Fungi, belonging to 

 the order Hj/menomi/cetes. In 1867 the venerable Fries commenced 

 the publication of his " Icones " in which it was proposed to 

 illustrate all the European species of which no figures had been 

 published. For the rest the British Mycologist had to purchase 

 numerous and expensive works, which had from time to time ap- 

 peared in diflferent European countries, and in many of these the 

 figures were not absolutely satisfactory. To meet the requirements 

 of the British student of Fungi a work was long felt desirable 

 which should include coloured figures of all the known British 

 species, and I was often urged to undertake such a work, but the 

 magnitude and responsibility of the undertaking deterred me for 

 a long period from making the attempt. 



At the meeting of the Woolhope Club, in the autumn of 1880, 

 the subject was again considered, and I was induced to commence 

 these " Illustrations " provided a sufficient number of subscribers 

 could be secured to guarantee the continuance of the work, and 

 limit the pecuniary responsibility within reasonable bounds. 

 Although hitherto the receipts have fallen short of the expendi- 

 ture, the arduous undertaking has been pursued without interrnp- 

 tion, or recompense, until the section Leucospori of the large genus 

 Agaricus has been completed in two volumes, containing 292 



