MICEOSCOPIC FUNGI. 



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CHAPTER I. 



CLUSTER-CUPS. 



N these latter days^ when everyone who possesses 

 a love for the marvellous^ or desires a knowledge 

 of some of the minute mysteries of nature_, has, 

 or ought to have^ a microscope^ a want is occa- 

 sionally felt which we have essayed to supply. 

 This want consists in a guide to some systematic 

 botanical study _, in which the microscope can be 

 rendered available^ and in which there is ample 

 field for discovery^ and ample opportunity for the 

 elucidation of facts only partly revealed. Fungi^ 

 especially the more minute epiphyllous species^ 

 present just such an opportunity as many an 

 ardent student would gladly take advantage of; 

 one great obstacle to the pursuit being hitherto^ 

 found in the absence of any hand-book to this 

 section of the British Flora^ embracing the emen- 

 dations^ improvements^ and additions of the past 

 twenty-seven years (the period at which the fifth 

 volume of the ^' EngHsh Flora ^^ made its appear- 



B 



