xxxvi INTRODUCTION,
The fourth order contains fix, viz. Auricularia, Helvella, Hydnum,
Filtulina, Boletus, and Agaric.
The laft genus, containing the Agarics, will be treated of in a fubfequent
volume, not yet publiihed.
The Mueor, the Clathrus, the Sphseria, Helvella,; &c. &c. of other
authors, are feparated from each other, and fcattered in various parts of his
arrangement. He has a genus named Clathrus, which conflits only of
one fpecies, viz. the Clathrus cancellatus. His feventh genus, named
Nidularia, conflits of, and only includes, the Peziza lentífera; ftriata, and
laevis, of other authors. His eighteenth genus, denominated Fiftulina,
conflits only of the Boletus hepatieus, of other writers. His fécond genus
Reticularia, conflits of the buttery or creamy mucors. The firit genus,-
Tuber, confitts of the Truffle-, which is with" much reafon feparated from
the dufty puff-ball. T h e Sphoeria of H a ¿ l e R , and others are difperfed in three
genera, viz'. Hypxylon, Veriolaria, and Clavaria. His Helvellse conflit only of
fuch plants as ejeót feeds from the under furface j his Peziza; of fuch as
ejeót .feeds from their upper furface ; by this rule many of the Helvella: of
other writers, will become Peziz«, and vice verfa. How juft or how neceffary
thefe innovations may be, or how far they may or may not be (upported
or authenticated, by the laws of Nature or of Science, I leave
to the candid examination, and inquiry, of thofe who have opportunity
and inclination to.purfue fo pleafing an amufement.
He has illuitrated his generic chara<âers, by giving the figures of feveral
of its reipedive fpecies in miniature, which are beautifully engraved on
two folio plates ; and his microfcopic obfervations are, in like manner,
illuitrated in many, neat figures,, on two other folio plates.
The principal chara&ers of his genera are given in the following pages,
GENUS I TUBER.
A fubterraneous Fungus, fleihy, firm, and full at every age ; nouriihing
its feeds inwardly, which" are never emitted in duit, but when the
Fungus dies, remain under ground for the propogation of the fpecies. 1 ' GENUS
J- N T R O D TjT C T I O N. xxxviî
.GENUS II. RBTlCV.L4M.l4r
A Fungus, which in its firit ftage is fo f t ; generally fwclling with a
thick juice; afterwards gradually acquiring a firmnefs in fuch a manner,
that by drying it becomes friable; when broken it ihews its feeds in form
of powder, which are fometimes entangled in intricate fibres; fometimes
interfered with fmall membranes like network, and fometimes alfo nettling
in a kind of leathery cafes,
' GENUS III. MU'COR.
A fmall Fun°-as, generally of fhort duration; fometimes fcattered i
fometimes growing, like a turf, confifting of very ilender pedicles, fingle
or branched, fometimes terminated with naked feeds; fometimes as with
down from fmall cluttered branches more or lefs diverging, every one of
which confitts of feeds linked together; fometimes alfo by a bladder-like
Toundiih or oval Pericarp, nouriihing the feeds which have no vifible net.
; GENUS IVf
TR ICIII AA
fmall pediculous Fungus, generally fitting ©n a membranaceous bafe,
•which is common to many of them. The Pericarp in its firft ftage is turbinated,;
oblong, or fubcyndrical, tranfparcnt, refembling a milky froth m •
foftnefs and'whitenefs, afterwards it is opake, piliar-ihaped, formed within
of thread-like net-work, without of intricate hairs-, firft contradted to a
membrane^ • afterwardsToofe and like ;a .lattice, it emit,s its feeds through
apertures, with which the whole furface is covered.
GENUS V. ' SFHMRO CAR PUS.
A fmall fleihy or leather-like Fungus, fitting on a membranaceous bafe,
-which is common to many of them, crowded together; they are pediculed
•or feiflle. Trhe Pericarp globular, turbinated or cylindrical, -at firft foil,
firm and opake, afterwards irregularly torn in every part, it emits feeds
from a hair-like net.
G E N l ' S VI. LTCOP ERDON.
; A Fungus with a Pericarp, in its firft ftate filled with a certain firm
flefh which afterwards being turned to duft compofed of feeds and down,
is