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A III. Descriptions of four new British Lichens. By Dawson Turner, 



Esq. M.A.F.L.S. 



Read January IS, 1803. 



U pox the four Lichens of which I now take the liberty of offering 

 descriptions to the Linnean Society, I have little more to say*, in 

 general, than that they do not appear to me to be noticed, either in 

 the works of Professor Hoffman, in Dr. Acharius's comprehensive 

 Lichenographia Suecica, or in the productions of any other author 

 with which I am acquainted. To say more would be presump- 

 tion; for so many botanists have treated of Lichens in partial 

 Floras, and introduced what they considered as new species, not 

 only without figures, but with very inadequate characters, that it 

 is possible these also may have been previously described : but, 

 even should this prove the case, I trust the Society will not think 

 I have done an altogether useless office, in endeavouring, by co- 

 loured figures, and more ample descriptions, to remove them in 

 future be}'ond the reach of doubt. Thus much I may be allowed 

 to say, that they are unknown to Dr. Smith, Mr. Dickson, and 

 every other botanist who has at present seen them ; and if, in 

 the particulars I have stated respecting each, I should appear 

 prolix, I beg leave to give it as my humble opinion, that, from 

 the vast extent of the genus Lichen, particularly the crustaccous 

 division of it, nothing less than the most detailed account of every 

 species, pointing out its differences from those of its congeners 

 with which it is most likely to be confounded, will ever suffice 



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