AUTHOR’S PREFACE. 
An effort Inis been made in this Handbook to combine features of 'interest to 
the general naturalist with more detailed technical descriptions of the various 
species of larger fungi at present known for this State. Though the latter 
aspect appeals chiefly to the systematic mycologist, whose numbers in Australia 
are few, others who feel an interest in this branch of botany will not And it 
difficult to master the terms employed in the descriptive part of this work. Such 
interest, once stimulated, may lead on to a more complete study of these 
fascinating find often evanescent plants. Moreover the serious student is entitled 
to consideration and the work he does in systematic mycology often has important 
practical hearings. The present study, imperfect as it necessarily is, represents 
arduous work spread over many years. The field experience thus gained will, 
it is hoped, help others to acquire more quickly a working knowledge of our 
larger fungi. 
The author has borrowed freely from the generic descriptions in Rea’s "British 
Basidiomycetes, ’ ' most of which have been adopted in Into, and he is indebted 
to tliis work in many other ways. Much of the glossary is copied from C. 11. 
Kauff'maun’s ‘‘The Agaricaceae of Michigan,’’ from which has also been 
obtained most of the information on poisonous fungi. The author would like to 
express his indebtedness to Dr. G. 11. Cunningham of New Zealand, who has 
critically examined much South Australian material and from whose writings 
nearly all the section dealing with the Gasteromycetales (Puff-balls, etc.) has 
been taken. Miss E. M. Wakefield of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England, 
has gone out of her way to aid in the identification of Australian specimens 'sent 
to her; Mr. L. Rodway, C.M.G., of Hobart, has collaborated with the author in 
various papers and assisted him in many ways; Mr. Edwin Cheel, Keeper of the 
Herbarium, Botanic Gardens, Sydney, was a co-worker for niruiy years and has 
contributed his share to our present knowledge of the subject. 
No financial provision has been made in this series of Handbooks for the 
publication of coloured illustrations. Those appearing in Part 1. of this Hand- 
book are due to the generosity of the Government Printer of New South Wales 
(Mr. A. .1. Kent, l.S.O.) and to a private benefaction, and take the place of an 
equivalent number of uncoloured illustrations. The four plates II. to V. 
were prepared as far hack as 1916 fi'om watercolour drawings chiefly by Miss 
Phyllis Clarke (now Mrs. North), for publication in The Agricultural Gazette 
of A 'cw South Wales as part of a series of article® by Mr. Edwin Cheel and 
myself appearing therein. The stress of the years of the Great War necessitated 
the cessation of this series. The four blocks, which had already been prepared, 
wore then put aside by the Government Printer of New South Wales, who has 
now with characteristic courtesy lent them free of charge to the Government 
Printer of South Australia for publication in this Handbook. To Mr. Cheel 1 
would like to express my thanks for permission to use these plates, intended to 
illustrate our joint article. It is necessary to add that the fungi figured from 
this source have not as yet all been found in South Australia, though probably 
most of them do occur. Descriptions, from, the specimens figured, of those not 
yet recorded are included in the text in square brackets [ ]. The cost of the 
blocks for the coloured illustrations in Plates I. and VI. lias been paid 
for out of a small fund at the disposal of the South Australian Branch of the 
British Science Guild. The watercolours from which they were taken were the work 
of Miss Phyllis Clarke (Mrs. North) and the reproductions indicate the delicacy 
and excellence of her technique. 
