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of his industry and patience, his powers of observation, and 

 his happy manner of portraying the subject of his thoughts. 

 At the time of his death, he was engaged in an investiga- 

 tion of the origin of some of the cultivated plants, and their 

 subsequent distribution by human agency over the world. 

 These researches, which, in the opinion of those competent 

 to decid-e, are of high value, it is hoped, may yet be given 

 to the public. 



Mr. C. J. Sprague read a paper entitled " Contributions 

 to New England Mycology," as follows : — 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO NEW ENGLAND MYCOLOGY. 

 By C. J. Sprague. 



I was requested, last year, by the Rev. Dr. M. A. Curtis, of 

 South Carolina, to pay some attention to the Fungi of this local- 

 ity, as 'few collections had been made in our Northeastern 

 States, which offer to the Mycologist a comparatively unexplored 

 field. I began to collect specimens, as my leisure would allow, 

 and I have gathered, during the year, over four hundred species. 

 Some of these are very common ; some, already known in Eu- 

 rope and at the South, have been detected here now for the first 

 time ; others are new to science. I have been cordially assisted 

 in my researches by Mr. Dennis Murray, to whom the study of 

 Mycology has been long familiar, and who has discovered many 

 rare species. Our united collections have all passed under the 

 examination of Dr. Curtis, and have been named by him. What- 

 ever scientific exactness the subjoined list may display is entirely 

 due to him. 



The list contains the names of such species only as have been 

 determined beyond doubt. Many others yet remain for verifica- 

 tion and description. I have included also a few species com- 

 municated to me by Dr. Curtis and the Rev. Mr. J. L. Russell, 

 of Salem. The list comprises but a fraction of New. England 

 Fungi; but it is laid before you to supply, though partially, a 

 void in this branch of knowledge. If circumstances shall allow, 

 I hope to make extensive additions through future researches. 



