Shear-Stevens: Mycological Work of M. A. Curtis 189 



A letter written January 8, 1846, shows that shipping specimens 

 by freight proved too slow for Curtis' growing impatience and 

 contains his first reference to a serious study of fungi, to which 

 he has already given some attention. 



Hillsborough, N. C. Jan : 8th/46 



• Dear Sir: 



You solicited my assistance in collecting Lichens with a 

 fear, no doubt, that I might decline the service on account of 

 being too troublesome to me. There is now some danger 

 that the most trouble will be in the other direction. I am get- 

 ting impatient to know some of these Lichens — all of them 

 indeed — but I can be kept somewhat comfortable by learn- 

 ing a few at a time. There will be progress — & that is what 

 I wish to realize. With your permission then, I will occa- 

 sionally, till my box reaches you, send a few specimens by 

 letter that you may give me the names. I will not trouble 

 you to write letters in reply, but merely to send a sheet con- 

 taining the names of the plants^ if you can do it without too 

 much labor or annoyance. 



I have taken out from the collection such Fungi as I could 

 readily lay hands on. Some probably remain, which you can 

 throw into the fire. But I will be obliged to you to commu- 

 nicate my proposal to Fries. I shall be glad to know some- 

 thing of this Order. How can I get a copy of Schweinitz 

 Synopsis Fungorum? 



I have several times attempted the Fungi, but with small 

 means have made small progress. The Musci (frondosi) 

 hurt my eyes too much, & I quit them long ago. But the 

 Musci Hepatici I still dabble at. Can you send me any of 

 these ? 



At this time (1846) it was evidently his plan to depend upon 

 Fries for assistance in the identification of fungi. 



On April 27, 1846, he states that he has secured copies of 

 Schweinitz's " Synopsis N. C. Fungi," and also the " U. S. 

 Fungi." 



There is a break of over a year in the correspondence between 

 Tuckerman and Curtis (1846-1847). During this time Curtis 

 began correspondence with Rev. M. J. Berkeley which effectively 



7 Letters to Tuckerman dated Hillsborough, N. C, April 13, 746, and 

 April 27, 746. 



