xii PREFACE 



I wish to take this opportunity to express my appre- 

 ciation to the many friends who have assisted in the 

 preparation of this book. Grateful acknowledgment is 

 due to Mr. Hey ward Scudder for the suggestion of 

 making a Key to the genera of mosses to be used with- 

 out a lens, for testing the Keys, for much advice in 

 writing the preliminary chapters, for reading and cor- 

 recting the manuscript, and for many valuable sugges- 

 tions. Mrs. Frank E. Lowe, Mr. H. Donald Kemp, 

 and my sister, Miss Ethel A. Pennell, have read the 

 preliminary chapters, tested the Keys, and given help- 

 ful advice. I am indebted to Mrs. Lowe for collecting 

 fresh mosses for study and comparison. Among others 

 who have also patiently tried the Keys are Miss 

 Georgia H. Emery, Miss Jane M. Furber, Miss Marie 

 R. Felix, Miss Elizabeth A. Dike, Mrs. Frank C. 

 Smith, Mrs. John L. Wright, and Miss Margaret 

 Kemp. I am indebted to Mrs. Elizabeth G. Britton 

 and Mr. Edward B. Chamberlain for answering many 

 questions regarding nomenclature, authorities, and 

 synonyms. Dr. A. J. Grout kindly gave me the deri- 

 vation of Cirriphyllum and Miss Furber and Mr. 

 Chamberlain assisted in looking up some of the other 

 derivations. I am indebted to my husband, Mr. 

 Horace C. Dunham, for helpful suggestions in drawing 

 the illustrations. 



While recognizing its limitations and imperfections, 

 I trust the book will accomplish much toward introduc- 

 ing the mosses to those who have not known them, and 



