Caloceras which have the closest affinity will not be confounded with it, if the simple diflerence is remarked, 

 that all the true Clamrim are dry and persistent, the Caloceras slimy and deliquescent. In Geoglossum 

 sjjaf/iulana and Mitrnla a great natural distinction takes place, they have sporidia, packed iu asci for the 

 fructifying principle, instead of the simple spores of Chwaria, and are now therefore formed into a separate 

 family under the title Geofflossece. 



We owe so much to the pains-takiug laborious pioneers, the Witherings, Sowerbys, &c., who have 

 observed and noted, that it is with a sort of pious sorrow we relinquish their works, superseded, but not 

 altogether set aside, by more perfect arraugemeuts and improved nomenclature ; for ori(jinal observations are 

 always valuable; in referring to these older works it is only requisite to take care to identify the object 

 described, and to ascertain syuonymes correctly. Sowerby's book has fortunately escaped a modem editor, 

 and if any young Mycologist should possess the thiixl edition of Withering, corrected by the author's own 

 grapliic pen only, he would make a woful mistake in exchanging, like Aladdin's lamp, the old for new. 



Great geniuses have occasionally sprimg up. "Wliat! genius for My cology ? " Yes! even so. Porgive 

 us. Poets and Painters ! there may be such a tiling as genius receiving a direction even into a channel so 

 apparently duU as that ; like bright waters in similar bounds, still a vivifpng uifluence, it is still genius, 

 though employed in giving lucid arrangement to Toadstools, and with inadequate means, and under disad- 

 vantages such as must deter all but intent master-spirits, working bravely on ; to her zealous and faithful 

 worshippers, natm-e vouchsafes as it were, revelatious, witheld from the timid, or hstless, or mercenary. Such 

 meu were Clusius, whose shattered frame and pauiful existence were no impediments to his "labour of 

 love"; Micheli, who saw better, by inward inspu'ation, with the imperfect microscopes of his day, than any 

 of liis successourSj and whose investigations the perfection of modern instruments verifies, to the exclusion of 

 intermediate errour ; and Ray, — an oration in praise of Eay we must leave to the society who honour liis 

 inemorj', simply recording our opinion, that if ever true genius existed it was enshrined in John Eay, who 

 looked through all the wonders of " Creation " to find the " Wisdom of God " therein — and, returning to 

 the half-finished sentence interrupted by sentimental doubts, we venture to affirm that labourers in the field 

 of Mycology have occasionally sprung up, by whom tasks have been performed which notliing less than genius 

 could enable them to accomplish. 



