
          306 Transactions British Mycological Society

extensive Botanic rambles, has swormed the dreary precipices at Ingleborrow,
Skiddow, ye Glydar, & Criby destillh, with a spirit & Resolution wh. Indicates a
true Botanic Genius.

The Sphaeria grew on the Bark of a fallen Maple Tree near his House in Halifax,—.
I have figured it as it appeard under magnifiers of two different powers.

The dates of collection and localities given in the manuscript usually
agree with those given in the published work.

It seems evident from his statement in the “Advertisement” quoted
that he changed his mind in regard to the desirability of including
descriptions of the species illustrated when he came to prepare the
“work” for publication and also changed the title from Icones to
History.

Various persons and localities are mentioned in the manuscript
which are not found in the published work (as in the case of Dr Alexander
and Mr Shakelton). Some of these references might possibly
furnish clues which would lead to the discovery of more information
in regard to the author and his work. On two blank sheets at the end
of vol. IV there is evidence that two sheets of manuscript which had
been pasted in have been removed. This is shown by the presence of
patches of red sealing wax on the sheets and some remains of the sheets
with traces of writing not in Bolton’s hand. These sheets may have
contained valuable information regarding the volumes but were removed 
by some previous owner on account of their holograph or autograph 
value. An appeal to the bookseller for information regarding
the previous owner of the volumes gave only the statement that he
bought it at a sale and knew nothing of its previous history. Perhaps
some of our English colleagues, who may well be proud of their first
distinguished Mycologist, will be able to pursue this subject further.

In a biographical sketch published in The Halifax Naturalist ,
vol. VI, §36, pp. xlviii-liv, February, 1902, prepared by the editor,
W. B. Crump, it is said that “It is doubtful whether the originals for
the History of Fungusses are still in existence. They were probably
destroyed by fire when the old hall at Exeton (the family seat) was
burned in 1810.” This reference is to the home of Bolton’s patron, the
Earl of Gainsborough. It is also stated that some other drawings
which the Earl received from Bolton are now in the British Museum
(Natural History). These illustrations are referred to in the above-
mentioned sketch and also in Massee and Crossland’s Fungous Flora of
Yorkshire. The numbers and dates they bear indicate that they were
prepared after the original manuscript had been completed and bound,
and the printed work published. It would be interesting to know the
history and wanderings of these manuscript volumes after they left the
Library of the Earl. They contain no book plates and no inscriptions
except that in vol. I there is a note in pencil “lent to Miss A.B.” and on
the inside of the cover in vols. II, IV and V is written in ink “Colborne
        