64 ‘THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 
are contained in a part of the report marked (C). I have also added 
to this part of the report descriptions of new species contained in the 
Thirty-second Report, but which were never published in such a way 
as to be generally available to the public or to those most interested in 
having them. 
The recent publication of the second volume of Prof. P. A.Saccardo’s 
great work, Sylloge Fungorum, completes that part of the work which 
pertains to the Pyrenomycetous fungi and gives to mycologists a new 
system of arrangement and classification of the vast group of 
Sphzeriaceous fungi. While this system recognizes as primary groups 
or families the Perisporiacee, Spheriacew, Hypocreacew, Dothideacee, 
Microthyriacez, Lophiostomacee and Hysteriacez, the characteristics 
of which are based chiefly on external features, after the manner of 
the old system, it divides these families into sections whose characters 
are derived from the spores. By a most happy, simple and uniform 
system of nomenclature the very names of these sections are made to 
indicate their distinguishing characters and thereby to greatly simplify 
the system and facilitate the study, identification and classification of 
the numerous species. Many new genera have been introduced, some 
of which appear to be founded on rather slight characters, yet as a 
whole the system so ingeniously combines and employs both the ex- 
ternal salient features and the internal spore characters of these fungi 
that it readily commends itself to fayorable consideration. I am not 
aware that it has more than a single decided opponent, and in my 
opinion it will be adopted and followed in its general features by nearly 
if not quite all mycologists. I have, therefore, devoted some time to 
a revision of our collection of these fungi, that the nomenclature and 
arrangement Of the specimens may Keep pace with the advancement 
of the science and be in harmony with the new order of things thus 
introduced. ‘This revisionary work is not yet fuily completed. The 
great number of new genera requires the re-examination and re-labeling 
of many of the specimens. I have prepared a list of the names of 
our Spheriaceous fungi, brought down to and including those of the 
thirty-first report, in which axe placed in the left hand column the 
names as they stand under the new arrangement, in the right hand 
column the names as given under the former system of arrangement 
whenever they differ from the others. This list is marked (F). 
A record of species new to our flora, but already described, new 
stations of rare plants, remarks upon new or noticeable varieties, etc., 
are given in a part of the report marked (D) 
In pursuance of a plan devised for the purpose of giving to the 
public more complete and satisfactory descriptions of certain groups 
of our fungi than can be found in any works yet published. I have 
' prepared monographs of the three genera, Paxillus, Cantharellus and 
Craterellus, so far as they are represented in our State. This part of 
the report is marked (E). 
Respectfully submitted, 
CHAS. H. PECK, 
Botanist. 
ALBANY, December 31, 1883. 
