An History of Fungusses, growing about Halifax (Vols 1-2)

and most entertaining branch thereof, the CRYPTOGAMIA CLASS A taxonomic class of plants with hidden reproductive organs, such as fungi, mosses, and ferns., has been too superficially regarded. That our knowledge of the Fungi, the last order of this class, is very deficient, will evidently appear from this: that a greater number of its species have been actually gathered, in a compass of ground not exceeding eight or ten miles around Halifax, than have yet been identified in our best and most correct catalogue of British plants. The above species are the subject of the present work; but as original drawings from nature of the whole number are now in your lordship's possession, it is not necessary to recapitulate them here.

I am happy, my Lord, to embrace this opportunity of acknowledging that it is to your LORDSHIP's generous encouragement, together with that of your late noble relative, the GOOD DUCHESS DOWAGER of PORTLAND, that the work in a great measure owes its existence, and of professing that

HALIFAX,
January 1, 1788.