xxxvi INTRODUCTION, 



The fourth order contains fix, viz, Auricularia, Helvella, Hydnum, 

 Fiftulina, Boletus, and Agaric. 



The laft genus, containing the Agarics, will be treated of in a fttbfe- 

 quent volume, not yet publilhed. 



The Mucor, the Clathrus, the Spharia, 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 confifts only of 

 one fpecies, viz. the Clathrus cancellatus. His feventh genus, named 

 Nidularia, confifts of, and only includes, the Peziza lentifera, ftriata, and 

 lavis, of other authors. His eighteenth genus, denominated Fiftulina, 

 confifts only of the Boletus hepaticus, of other writers. His fecond genus 

 Reticularia, confifts of the buttery or creamy mucors. The firft genus, 

 Tuber, confifts of the Truffle, which is with much reafon feparated from 

 the dufty puff-ball. The Spharia of HALLER,and others are difperfed in three 

 genera, viz. Hypxylon, Veriolaria, and Clavaria. His Helvella confift only of 

 fuch plants as eject feeds from the under furface ; his Peziza of fuch as 

 eject feeds from their upper furface; by this rule many of the Helvella of 

 other writers, will become Peziza, and vice vcrfa. Howjuft or how ne- 

 ceftary thefe innovations may be, or how far they may or may not be fup- 

 ported 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 illuftrated his generic characters, by giving the figures of feveral 

 of its refpective fpecies in miniature, which are beautifully engraved on 

 two folio plates ; and his microfcopic obfervations are, in like manner, 

 illuftrated in many neat figures, on two other folio plates. 



The principal characters of his genera are given in the following pages, 



GENUS I. TUBER. 



A fubterraneous Fungus, flefhy, firm, and full at every age; nourifh- 

 ing its feeds inwardly, which are never emitted in duft, but when the 

 Fungus dies, remain under ground for the propogation of the fpecies. 



GENUS 



