THE DISTRIBUTION OF BRITISH MOSSES. 



61 



It is obvious that one collector cannot investigate the moss flora 

 of more than a few of these districts, and the aid of all bryologists 

 is confidently asked in this work. It is not likely that I shall 

 receive the lists which will enable me to compile the census in 

 less than two or three years, but should much like to find a moss- 

 student in each vice-county who would undertake during that time 

 to prepare a list of his district. I have already received lists or offers 

 of assistance from correspondents in the following vice-counties: — 



It would add very greatly to the value of the lists if voucher 

 specimens were also sent, with notes of subsoil, altitude, &c. 

 These specimens I would return as soon as they had been submitted 

 to competent authorities, or would, if preferred, send other mosses 

 in exchange. Mr. H. N. Dixon and Mr. E. M. Holmes have already 

 kindly offered to aid me by examining any doubtful or critical species. 



I am using Mr. Dixon's '^ Handbook'^ Catalogue as the basis of 

 this work, and would like to suggest that much help might be given 

 me if each bryologist went through his herbarium and entered on 

 the blank leaves of an interleaved copy of that Catalogue the 

 numbers of the vice-counties from which he has specimens of each 

 moss. This, even for a large collection, would not take very long, 

 and would afford a very large mass of information for my purpose. 

 Unfortunately many specimens in herbaria are not sufficiently 



