xxiv I N T R O D U C T I O N .
an air of originality in the outline, which is not without great difficulty
retained, under that hazardous and difagreeable operation.
The Effay towards a methodical arrangement of the Agarics contained
in this work, how imperfeft foever in its prefent infant ftate, may* I
hope, be ufeful, in exciting the attention of fuch of my friends in particular,
or of Botanifts in general, as have made fome progrefs in the
ftudy of this perplexing, and exteniive branch of Natural Hiftory.
The primary divifions are founded in the difpofition and. arrangement
of the gills j the fecondary, in the prefence or abfence of either the volva,
or curtain, or both; and the fpecific diftinitions are drawn from the fize,
figure, colour, texture, &c. &c. of all the parts, both external and in-,
ternal, combinedly. The neceffity of this combination is the moil perplexing
part in the ftudy of Agarics, and this perplexity muft always
remain :—for the parts are fo fimple and few, and the Genus fo numerous,
that it is impoffible to affix fingle fpecific Diagnoftics.—That a gradual and
progreffive arrangement or difpofition may exift, between all the created
fpecies of this Genus, I deny not, but this connedion (till all the created
fpecies are known) we can no mori difcover, than we can write a compleat
Hiftory in any Language, and be denied the ufe of perhaps threefourth
parts of the characters, which conftitute the Alphabet of that
Language. The chain can never be compleated, while fo many intermediate
links are wanting.
In citing Authors, I have referred to fuch figures ox fynonyma as I
thought moft proper, but did not think it neceifary to fwell the Book, by
tranfcribing thofe fynonyma; many of them being already colledted together,
in Mr. Hud/on's excellent Flora, and in moft other fimilar publications,
as well as in this work, at the head of the refpe&ive defcription
of the plant, except in the new or undefcribed fpecies.
The
I N T R O D U C T I O N . xxv
The plants of the order of Fungi, afford food to many fpecies of infers
; the gills of Agarics, and the tubes of the ftalked Boletujfes, are
greedily devoured by fnailsj while the folid or flefhy parts afford both
food and habitation to the Larva of numerous fpecies of flies, both of
the Diptera and Coleoptera claffes. Some of thefe Larvce, when fufficiently
fed in the fleihy parts of the plant, make their way down the hollow
of the ftem into the ground, where they fwathe themfelves, and
remain in the Pupa ftate, till the appointed time of their revival.
Throughout this work, I have endeavoured to clear the fubjedt from
thofe difficulties wherewith it has been long encumbered. In fome
fpecies, indeed, it was very difficult to determine with preciffion; the
plants are fo very fimilar in figure; fo very different in appearance,
at different ftages of their growth ; fo various in their colour, according
to the weather or their age; and fo confounded by authors, that a man
might almoft fpend his whole life amongft them, in order, clearly and accurately,
to afcertain their fpecies. I have carefully obferved, drawn, and
defcribed the plants of this order, when in feafon, for twenty-feven years
paft; having drawings in my poffeffion which I made in 1761. I have
made ufe of all the lights I could obtain from the works of Linnceust
Hudfon, Scopoli, Haller, Vaillant, Micheli, Battarra, Sterbeeck, Gleditfch,
Dillenius, Ray, &c. &c. and after all, I willingly fubmit my obfervations;
to the few, who have ftudied the fubjedt as devoutly as myfelf,1 to alter,
change, or totally rejeff, fuch as are wrong; and I hope that thofe few*
'knowing the difficultiesIthat attend the undertaking, will candidly overlook
and forgive fuch fmall miftakes as have efcaped me.