380 
The total number of species represented in the volume, exclusive of 
varieties, is 2087.* This, in comparison with the total number of spe¬ 
cies recorded by Saccardo, some 36,000, seems, and is, small, when the 
whole extent of the country covered is taken into account. But it is 
of course very improbable that all the Australian forms have been 
described. Indeed, scarcely a month passes but some new species are 
recorded, and it is probable that they will continue to be sent in for 
many years to come. The various orders are represented by species as 
follows: 
Hyinenomycetene. 1,178 
Gastromycetes©. 174 
Ascomycetese. 341 
Phycomycetene. 12 
Hypodermese. 103 
Sphseropsidese. 114 
Hyphomycetese. 117 
Myxomycetes© . 48 
The largest order, Hymenomycetem, probably occupies this place 
because of the generally large size of the plants embraced in it. These 
being easily seen are naturally collected. At the same time the second 
order, Gastromycetem, has 174 out of a total known from the whole 
world of 650 species. “ From this we conclude,” Dr. Cooke remarks, 
“that Gastromycetes are unusually strong in Australia, certainly includ¬ 
ing some interesting genera not hitherto discovered elsewhere, but 
weak in subterranean species.” 
The occurrence of a number of species in Ceylon and Australia is 
noted as a curious fact in geographical distribution. For example, 
numerous species of Lepiota , a subgenus of Agarlcus , occur in both 
places; others, like Kneiffia mulleri , Hymenochwte strigosa, II. rhabar- 
barina , IStereum pusillum, S. spar sum , Coniophora murina , Aseroe zeyla- 
nica , and Epichloe cinerea are found nowhere else than in Ceylon and 
Australasia. Comparing the flora with that of Europe, Dr. Cooke finds 
that of the Hymenomycetes 332 are exclusively Australian, 472 are Aus¬ 
tralian and European, and 370 are common to Australia and some other 
country exclusive of Europe. Of the Gastromycetes only 31 out of 173 
species are European. The Myxomycetes are still regarded as fungi, 
notwithstanding the efforts to separate them as Mycetozoa. 
A useful portion of the introduction consists of condensed accounts 
of the principal groups, with tables of the genera. This, while not 
claiming to be complete, can not but be of assistance in recognizing the 
larger groups and the genera. The species will have to be studied up 
from the descriptions. These, however, are well supplemented by 36 
plates, with 377 figures. Twenty plates, with 175 figures, are colored. 
*Tlie slight discrepancy between this number and that given by Dr. Cooke in the 
introduction is due to the addition here of a few interpolated and duplicate num¬ 
bers left out of his count in the general total. 
