
J 
5 
forms which, it indicates, the time has clearly not 
yet come to touch any disciision of apparent andmalies 
of distribution. With the aid of Mr. Bolaniler, it is my 
expectation to distribute ‘to lichenists some of the more 
markable forms here reckoned. And this gentleman 
intends also, I am happy to say, to give to the press, his 
interesting €petations on the geological conditions and 
e climatal limitations of the Coast-Flora. — 
It appears proper, in view of some modifications, ap- 
parent in these pages, of the writer's previously ex: 
pressed conceptions of the System, to state briefly 
his present apprehension of it. Of late long-occupied 
with a tropical Lichen-Flora, I have found great ad- 
vantage in consulting, and to some extent, have followed 
the method of, the learned memoirs of Dr. Nylander, 
who has added more to the sum of knowledge of tropi- 
cal Lichens than any other writer, and whose opinions 
derive indisputable weight from the universality of his 
stand-point. It is however one thing to follow, in a new 
field, the track of a method already indicated, and an- 
other to accept the System which lies behind ; nor is 
anything more certain than that the long-continued, 
sufficient investigation of particulars, of species, implies, 
and ought to imply restatements of our general notions. 
From the first and always a disciple of the illustrious 
Fries, it is then my full persuasion that his systematic 
interpretation of the affinities of Lichens, taken gen- 
erally, or in all its larger features, is still adequate to 
the phenomena; and that succeeding expositions, far 
from supplanting, have derived already not a little of 
their vitality, or will require to seek it, from the pro- 
found views of the botanist of Upsal. 
But science does not stand still. The observations of 
Meyer and Eschweiler, and in particular of Fee and 
Montagne, opened up the fresh field of spore-investiga- 
