PREFACE. 



The object I have had in view whilst preparing this work lias 

 been to make the study of the British Hepaticae somewhat easier 

 for the growin<^ number of students who are taking an interest in 

 this, hitherto, neglected order. Although much has been written 

 on the structure and arrangement of the genera and species, no 

 attempt has been made, since the appearance of Sir Wm. J. 

 Hooker's "British Jungermanniae " in 1816, to delineate the 

 various organs of each particular species, without which it is 

 most difficult to identify those closely related. A very brief 

 introduction is followed by a full description, with figures of each 

 species, with their organs magnified. 



I have followed the arrangement proposed by the late Dr. 

 Spruce, to whom I am indebted for the description of most of the 

 genera. 



I have also made free use of the labours of others which I have 

 or may not have duly acknowledged, but all the species have been 

 critically examined and studied by me, and as the work has been 

 great, I trust criticism may be disarmed on this point. 



About twenty-five years ago I attended a botanical class 

 taught by tlie late Dr. Carrington, and so made the friendship of 

 one of the most accurate botanists of our time, who then was 

 bringing out his " British Hepaticju," of which only four parts 

 were issued. It was then my ambition to assist him, mid with 

 him I had })reparecl a further part, but it never appeared 



