INTRODUCTION. 



Since I began the Work, to Avhich I now call the present 

 a Supplement, much has been done in Botany, and many 

 new Genera have been made, especially among the Crypto- 

 gamia, and generally with great propriety. It is, however, 

 to be regretted that it is not always so, and attempts at nicer 

 discrimination have given room for descriptions much too 

 particular for certain tribes, especially the Fungi, which 

 vary so much that such very nice discriminators would 

 describe every Aariety as a distinct species, which has been 

 in part the case with the poisonous Agaricus Muscarius ; see 

 tab. 130 of this Work. I should not have spoken of it iu 

 this place, but for the sake of caution, and as a reason for 

 my not describing the species of this sportive tribe too labo- 

 riously. It is from the above reasons, probably, joined by 

 other natural circumstances, that the most exact and learned 

 Authors have made so many species of that so universally 

 acknowledged poisonous Fungus (Ag. Muscarius) in which, 

 at first sight, they appear to have outdone the great Linnaeus, 

 who did not swell his Catalogue by making varieties of this 

 into species, and consequently left an account of this poi- 

 sonous Agaric entire ; the circumstance of their now being 

 divided into many species, may tend to mislead and give occa- 

 sion to the epicure in Fungi to suppose, that only the identical 

 plant described by Linnaeus was to be avoided. But to de- 

 scribe this variable tribe, it was necessary that they should be 

 seen in every season and situation, tracing well the different 

 appearances, and taking rather a large scope as to their 

 general characters ; for, if we too nicely describe the most 

 perfect specimen, perhaps we shall never see the like again. 

 Thus, while it is very plentiful in a more common appearance 

 as the poisonous Fungus, we shall scarcely be able to recog- 

 nize it in another state, but think it an wholesome species. 



