. THE CORRESPONDENCE OF SCHWEINITZ AND TORREY 121 
for several years past employed my leisure hours in the prose- 
cution of the study of Botany & though I have some excellent 
company in the investigation of the higher orders of plants, in 
the study of obscure cryptogamous vegetables I am almost alone. 
The Fungi perplex me much, though it is not more than a year 
since I first attended to them with any success. Still I hope 
with the assistance I now entreat from you to study this difficult 
tribe of the vegetable kingdom much more effectually than I 
have hitherto done. 
In the box which I have prepared for you, are some duplicates 
of Fungi which are sent to commence the correspondence I hope 
will be kept up. between us. There is however, little inducement 
for you to attend to my communications. One who has so long 
attended to the subject, on which I solicit assistance cannot 
expect to receive much that will be interesting, from a novice. 
Should you nevertheless see fit to notice what I have sent, I 
should consider it a very great favour to have the names of the 
different species returned according to the numbers annexed to 
them. If a continuation of such communications would not be 
unacceptable to you I shall take the liberty to trouble you again 
ere long. A great number of species of Fungi have been observed 
by me in this vicinity, besides those now sent. A considerable 
part could be tolerably preserved, though many are of such nature 
that they cannot be dried. Of these—drawings or casts can be 
sent if desired. “ 
I have found a species of Phallus which I suppose also grows 
‘near you, that I suppose to be P. impudicus of Muhlenberg’s 
Catalogue [52]. It is however different from the P. impudicus 
figured in Sowerby [82] &c. in having an indusium. The P. 
indusiatus of Pers[oon] resembles it in some respects, though it is 
probably distinct from this. If you know which species I refer 
to I will thank you for your opinion respecting it. 
If I had known whether you are fond of the other branches of 
the Cryptogamia I should have sent specimens. I am exceedingly 
fond of the Musci & Hepaticae & can let you have those which 
grow here, if you wish them. Also rare Phaenogamous plants. 
I am very desirous of increasing my collection of American 
plants, particularly of Cryptogamia, & if I could offer you any 
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