NOTICE'S or BOOKS. 255 



Uryologta Britannica : hy William Wilson, Esq. {^eing a new 

 I and greatly improved Edition of Hooker and Taylor's Muscol 



Britannica.) 



The work on British Mosses^ about to be published, is not a mere 

 compilation ; but the result of long and diligent study of the tribe, ex- 

 tending over a period of nearly thirty years. Since the MS. was pre- 

 pared for the press, seven years ago, it has undergone careful revision ; 

 and every species has been described from actual observation, except 

 in a few unavoidable instances, — in most cases after long and familiar 



acquaintance, and after repeated examination and comparison of num- 

 berless specimens, both growing and in a dried state. The Herbaria 

 of authors have been largely consulted; and authentic specimens of 

 Hedwig, Swartz, Palisot de Beauvois, Kichard, Bridel, Diclcson, and 

 others, have been duly investigated, and rendered available in the deter- 

 mination of doubtful species. The synonyms, especially, have been 

 carefully studied. 



In the plan of the work, it has been thought best to conform to the 

 views of Bruch and Schimper, as given in their excellent ' Bryologia 

 Europaea,' whenever reasons to the contrarj^ were not apparent. 



To render the wort more accessible to persons not familiar with the 

 Latin language, English names of the species have been added ; and 

 the technical terminology used in the specific characters and descrip- 

 tions, will be explained by a glossary. Analytical and synoptical 

 tables of the genera, and a comparative view of the genera in the 

 second edition of ' Muscologia Britannica,' are appended to the present 

 work, which contains upwards of 150 additional species, nearly all of 

 which are illustrated by figures, added to those of the second edition of 

 Muse. Brit., which have been corrected so as to be rendered available 

 in this ; and, in order to keep the volume within a moderate compass, 

 the citation of synonyms is as brief as possible. The work will occupy 

 about 450 pages of letterpress, in octavo (of which three-fourths are 



already printed). 



It is hoped that any one desirous of studying the tribe will find this a 

 serviceable manual, and, should further assistance be needed, it is in- 

 tended to issue sets of authentic specimens (obtainable on application to 

 Mr. W. Wilson, Warrington), at as moderate a price as will be reason- 

 ably remunerative for the trouble of preparation ; the materials for such 

 sets being already at hand. 



