Preface. vii 



time and attention, that I have been unable to 

 collect and study the Hepaticae in the field, and 

 therefore have to be content with the chronicle of 

 the labour of others rather than my own. It is 

 acknowledged, on all hands, that such a Handbook 

 is urgently required, and if it should be the means 

 of increasing the number of students, or assisting 

 those who have already commenced the study of 

 these interesting plants, it will justify the publica- 

 tion. 



M. C. Cooke. 



