( so ) 
VIII. Descriptions of four new British Lichens. By Dazi'son Turiicr, 
Esq. M.A.F.L.S. 
Read January 18, 1803. 
U pon the four Lichens of which I now take the liberty of offering 
descriptions to the Linnean Society, I have little more to say, in 
general, than that they do not appear to me to be noticed, either in 
the works of Professor Hoffman, in Dr. Acharius's comprehensive 
Lichenographia Suecica, or in the productions of any other author 
with which I am acquainted. To say more would be presump- 
tion; for so many botanists have treated of Lichens in partial 
Floras, and introduced what they considered as. new species, not 
only without figures, but with very inadequate characters, that it 
is possible these also may have been previously described : but, 
even should this prove the case, I trust the Society will not think 
I have done an altogether useless office, in endeavouring, by co- 
loured figures, and more ample descriptions, to remove them in 
future bejond the reach of doubt. Thus much I may be allowed 
to say, that they are unknown to Dr. Smith, Mr. Dickson, and 
every other botanist who has at present seen them ; and if, in 
the particulars I have stated respecting each, I should appear 
prolix, I beg leave to give it as my humble opinion, that, from 
the vast extent of the genus Lichen, particularly the crustaceous 
division of it, nothing less than the most detailed account of every 
species, pointing out its differences from those of its congeners 
with which it is most likely to be confounded, will ever suffice 
to 
