NOTES OF TRAVEL. LEIDEN. 



A second visit to Leiden was made chiefly to buy some of the 

 rare works of Persoon that were offered at auction in the sale of 

 Oudeman's library. It is probable that Persoon as he tramped over 

 Germany and France hunting fungi never imagined that the day 

 would ever come when one would travel half across Europe for the 

 opportunity to buy a few of his books ; or that any one would pay two 

 or three pounds for some of his pamphlets that originally sold for a 

 few francs. 



I found much more life and energy in the Botanical Museum at 

 Leiden than on my previous visit. There is a new director now, 

 Mr. J. P. Lotsy, who has succeeded in instilling some new life. On 

 my previous visit, while the specimens on sheets in Persoon's herb- 

 arium were in good condition, the specimens in boxes were in bad 

 shape and it was not practicable to work with them. All has now 

 been changed, due to careful work on the part of Dr. W. J. Jongmans 

 who has charge of Persoon's herbarium. The specimens have all 

 been poisoned and each placed in a glass covered box. It is evident 

 that they are beginning to appreciate at Leiden the historic value of 

 Persoon's herbarium. I had not seen these boxes before and they 

 throw some additional light on the puff ball history. 



NOTES ON PERSOON'S HERBARIUM. 



LYCOPERDON CRUCIATUM. It has been supposed tnat Persoon illus- 

 trated this plant under the name Lycoperdon candiduni. I think this is probably 

 true though the figure is not certain and there are no specimens so labeled in 

 his herbarium. That he did not have a comprehensive knowledge of the species 

 is however evident as I found some characteristic though depressed specimens 

 labeled by Persoon, Lycoperdon depressum. He never published it under 

 that name. 



LYCOPERDON MOLLE. Additional specimens, in boxes confirm our ac- 

 count of this plant as given in footnote, p. 209. A correct idea of Lycoperdon 

 molle according to Persoon's views is our figure 4, Plate 42. 



CALVATIA SACCATA. Specimens are labeled by Persoon, "Lycoperdon 

 | excipuliforme, Schaeff." If modern botanists would use this there would not 

 J be the same objection to it there isi when they write "Lycoperdon excipuliforme, 

 i Scop." Schaeffer did not propose the name and Scopoli did not indicate this 

 i plant under the name, so I think it is erroneous to use it in the sense of either 

 j of these authors. 



SCLERODERMA AURANTIUM. There are several collections of this 

 common species. Some are labeled "Lycoperdon aurantiacum, Bull., Scler- 

 oderma citrinum, Pers. Syn." thus proving that Persoon considered his species 

 citrinum a synonym for Bulliard's figure. He kept them distinct in his Synopsis 

 but the specimens were probably labeled afterwards. 



A NEW GALERA. Galera kellermani is the latest from America. It 

 has the advantage over most in being well illustrated. It was probably named 

 for doctor w. a. kellerman. 



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