INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS OF FUNGI, 

 XXIII-XXXIII 



William A. Murrill 



In Mycologia for January, 1916, an index was published to 

 species illustrated in the first 22 articles of my series on the 

 higher fungi, which was begun in the first volume of Mycologia 

 in 1909. Since that time, 11 more articles have appeared, which 

 are indexed below. The total number of species described and 

 illustrated to date is 249, the number represented in their natural 

 colors being 213 on 29 plates. 



Unfortunately, it has been necessary to crowd the figures on the 

 plates, but most of them have been kept natural size and repre- 

 sent fairly well the species illustrated. 



The idea of a great illustrated work on American fungi has 

 been in my mind for many years and I have frequently spoken 

 and written about it. Several hundred colored drawings have 

 been prepared with such a work in view. When the raising of 

 funds for this purpose became increasingly difficult, I decided to 

 publish in a comparatively inexpensive way as many species as 

 possible as quickly as possible; so that collectors might be stimu- 

 lated to increase our knowledge of the fungous flora and thus 

 prepare for a more comprehensive work when its publication 

 should become possible. From the large number of letters and 

 specimens received during recent years, I am convinced that it 

 was wise to publish when I did. As one writer expressed it: 

 " I'd much rather have a small colored figure now than a hand- 

 some folio plate after I am dead." 



I still have faith, however, in the patriotism and generosity of 

 American men of wealth, who will make it possible to supply 

 nature-lovers in this country with ample, correct, and beautiful 

 colored illustrations of our extremely varied and interesting 

 fungous flora. 



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