144 MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS 



seded by the fuller and more accurate delineations 

 of modern times. Moreover, as the book has long 

 been out of print it is difficult to procure, and 

 commands a relatively high price. Dr. Braith- 

 waite's " British Moss Elora " is undoubtedly the 

 largest work on the subject that we possess; it 

 contains descriptions of every species (with the 

 exception of the Sphagna, which are dealt with 

 in a separate volume by the same author), and 

 beautifully executed drawings of all of them in 

 great detail, together with full lists of the 

 synonyms used by various writers. It is, how- 

 ever, somewhat bulky (running to three large 

 volumes), and is too expensive to be within the 

 reach of all classes of students. Fortunately, the 

 would-be bryologist is now provided, at a com- 

 paratively low cost, with a book which will 

 admirably serve his purpose, in Mr. H. N. Dixon's 

 " Handbook of the British Mosses." Here he will 

 find a full and lucid description of all the various 

 species (the leading features being italicised), and 

 much practical information regarding them, which 

 will be of the greatest possible assistance. A set 

 of plates from the pencil of the Rev. J. G. 

 Jameson is included, the figures in which are 

 all drawn to a uniform scale, a fact of no little 

 assistance in the diagnosis of specimens. A 

 series of " keys," compiled by Mr. Jameson, is 

 also provided at the beginning of the work, 

 which, to my mind, have done much to diminish 



