STUDY OF THE BRYOPHYTES 141 



farther removed from the Liverworts than the Sphag- 

 nums. or even the Andreaeacese ; the latter, generally 

 speaking, have a somewhat flat, thalloicl protonema. 



Perhaps the average amateur botanist is deterred 

 from the study of the Bryophytes by the fact that a 

 microscope is usually necessary for their examination, 

 and that the determination of species is far from easy. 

 However, there are no insuperable difficulties, and the 

 student occupied with the flowering-plants in their 

 seasons will find a fascinating winter occupation in the 

 examination of Liverworts and Mosses. Specimens are 

 to be found fully developed at a season when flowering 

 plants are not active, and such as are gathered in the 

 finer seasons are easily restored by soaking in water if 

 they have been dried and saved for microscopic 

 mounting in the warm comfort of a study in the winter 

 months 



