LINDSAY, ON LECIDEA LUGUBRIS. 
179 
names of celebrated botanists to distinguish species as to 
bestow many of the present absurd adjective terms, which 
imply no structural peculiarities or natural affinities, but 
merely some far-fetched, and perhaps invisible or unintelli- 
gible resemblance or analogy. But I cannot regard the 
characters of the spores as sufficient to constitute Lecidea 
lugubris the type of a new genus, by whatever name it 
may be called. If we classify on this principle, we shall 
infallibly, as Korber has done, split up or subdivide the 
Lecideae — and lichens in general — into an endless and most 
confusing number of new genera and species. I regard the 
characters of the spore as an invaluable assistance in specific 
diagnosis ; and I quite agree w ith Korber that, in regard to 
its spores, this lichen stands conspicuously by itself among 
the Lecidese. I think it, however, in classification, sufficient 
to place it under a separate subdivision, headed Spores 
globose,'' without creating a new genus for its special accom- 
modation. The lichen possesses no external characters to 
justify such an isolation and distinction. I, therefore, prefer 
retaining the plainer and less euphonious name originally 
bestowed on it by Sommerfeldt — Lecidea lugubris. I do so 
as a practical protest against the modern spirit of name- 
manufacture, and of the fastidiously elaborate subdivision of 
genera and species. This is probably the result of a mono- 
ideaism ; I shall not say a morbid one, but one which is apt 
to lead to a repulsively minute and difficult classification. 
By seizing upon one particular structural feature, as a 
guiding principle of classification, we are too apt to lose 
sight of natural affinities, and so fall into all the evils of 
artificiality. 
Before entering upon the details of minute anatomy, I 
shall give the amended specific characters of L. lugubris, 
Sommf. — founded on those of Scliserer and Korber. Neither 
of these authors, however, makes any reference to the sper- 
mogones. 
Lecidea lugubris, Sommf. emend. — Sp. char. Thallus carti- 
laginous ; olive- or reddish-brown ; sub-effigurate ; 
consisting of a series of sub-lobulate squamules, 
aggregated into an areolate crust. Hypothallus black. 
Apothecia sessile ; black, naked ; thalamium flat ; 
margin sub -prominent, and consisting of a black or 
brownish -black, waxy, cup-shaped, proper exciple. 
Hypothecimn brownish, sub-grumous, simple. Thecal 
eight-spored ; sub-linear, long, delicate ; tapering 
below into a narrow longish pedicle. Paraphyses lax, 
