Hi. THE FLORA OF HALIFAX. 



am to divide and ascertain two species which have been considered 

 together as but one. I shall be glad to hear from you and to be informed 

 of many new species (particularly Fungi) discovered since I heard from 

 you last. 



Mr. J. Dickson, I am, 



Gardener, Sir, 



Covent Garden, Your Obedt. Servant, 



London. J. Bolton. 



Bolton's desire to receive any new species, particularly 

 fungi, is explained by the fact that he had now on hand and had 



almost completed his important work on 

 '* Fungusses." fungi. This was similar in plan to the 



Ferns, but extended into four volumes 

 though it was restricted to those growing about Halifax. The 

 introduction to the first volume of " An History of Fungusses 

 growing about Halifax " is dated January ist, 1788, and that 

 of the Appendix or Supplement " by which the work is 

 compleated in four volumes ; containing 182 copper plates on 

 which are engraved 231 species of Fungusses, exhibited in 

 about 900 figures," December 31st, 1791. As before, there 

 were two styles of issue, that with coloured plates costing 

 eight guineas. The work is dedicated to the Earl of Gains- 

 borough, who received the original drawings. " I am happy, 

 my Lord, to embrace the Opportunity of acknowledging, that 

 it is your Lordship's Generous Encouragement, together 

 with that of your late Noble Relative, the Good Duchess 

 Dowager of Portland, that the Work in a great Measure 

 owes its Existence" Henry, the sixth Earl of Gainsborough, 

 was an Honorary Member of the Linnean Society and a well- 

 known botanist, and doubtless helped Bolton considerably in 

 the production of such a costly work. Some other drawings 

 which he received from Bolton are now in the British Museum 

 of Natural History, but it is doubtful whether the originals 

 for the History of Fungusses are still in existence. They 

 were probably destroyed by fire when the old Hall at Exton 

 (the family seat) was burnt in 18 10. 



The next glimpse we get of Bolton shows him in a different 

 light. Having got his Fungusses out of hand he turns his 



attention to the birds, and begins the prepara- 

 11 Harmonia tion of another monograph. Only six weeks 

 Ruralis." after the last volume is despatched he writes to 



a friend, John Ingham, the master of Cockpit 

 School, Illingworth, near Halifax, as follows : * 



