ook the degree of M.D. in this university in 1735, though he had previously obtained the same rank at Gießen; and he now devoted himself to the completion of the *Pinax*, or universal collection of synonyms, which was Sheppard's chief object in this foundation. The work was never finished; for indeed neither Dillenius nor any one else could even at that time be competent to it: still less, as botanists and botanical works multiplied excessively, was this undertaking practicable. The publications of Linnæus soon rendered it unnecessary. That illustrious foreigner in 1736 visited Dillenius, who was desirous of fixing him here as his coadjutor; but to this scheme there were several impediments. Nevertheless these distinguished men continued ever after in correspondence, certainly to the advantage of their common study, except in one but too important instance. We allude to the theory of the fructification of mosses, in which Linnæus implicitly adopted the faulty opinion of the Oxford professor, contrary to his own better observation and judgment, taking the capsule for the anther. This leads us to mention the immortal work on which the fame of Dillenius rests, and which, in its way, will never be excelled, the *Historia Muscorum*, published in 1741, in one quarto volume, with eighty-five plates, drawn and engraved by the author. In this performance, laborious investigation, acute discrimination, supreme accuracy, and profound learning, are displayed beyond all example or comparison. Following inquirers, like the celebrated Hedwig, may, with better helps, have examined the same objects more deeply; but none has taken so complete a view of the subject, nor made so very few mistakes. No botanical book perhaps is so perfect in synonyms. Whether the labour of this undertaking was too much for the health of its author, or whether his sedentary mode of life was, on the whole, injurious, we have no particular information; but he began, soon after the publication of the *Historia Muscorum*, to complain of ill health and advancing age. He was of a short stature and corpulent habit, and died of an apoplexy April 2, 1747, in his sixtieth year. A picture of this distinguished botanist is preserved in the picture-gallery at Oxford, from which a print has been published in Sim's and König's *Annals of Botany*, vol. ii. Dillenius is said to have been amiable and respectable in his private character. He never married. His books and collection of mosses referring to his great work, with many drawings, especially of *Fungi*, were bought by his successor Dr Humphrey Silbthrop, and added to the Sherardian Museum, where they still remain.

(J. E. S.)