64 Thirty-sevekth Annual Keport. 



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 Keport, 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 Eungorum, 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 

 Sphaenaceous fungi. While this system recognizes as primary groups 

 or families the Perisporiaceae, Sphaeriaceae, Hypocreaceae, Dothideaceaa, 

 Microthyriaceae, Lophiostomaceae and Hysteriaceae, 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 favorable 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 fully 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 Sphaeriaceous fungi, brought down to and including those of the 

 thirty-first report, in which are 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). 



Eespectfully submitted, 



CHAS. H. PECK, 



Botanist. 



Albany, December 31, 1883. 



