COLLECTION OP SPECIMENS 149 



to mosses alone, yet all that I have to say will 

 apply also to the liverworts. 



Collection and Examination. The requisites 

 for the collection of mosses are of the simplest 

 description. I have been accustomed, for many 

 years, to use old envelopes for bringing home the 

 specimens gathered on my walks ; and, with this 

 object in view, always open any envelopes of a 

 convenient shape that come addressed to me, by 

 cutting them along the narrow end. They then 

 form most convenient pockets in which to put the 

 various plants, and notes can also be made upon 

 them at the time, of the date and locality when 

 and where found, with any other detail likely to 

 be of service, such as the nature of the soil, the 

 altitude, the manner of growth, etc., and memo- 

 randa may be added, when the contents of the 

 packet come to be examined, of any special 

 features that call for further consideration. Small 

 squares of stout newspaper will be equally service- 

 able for collecting purposes, and, indeed, it is 

 well, under any circumstances, to be provided 

 with some of these in which to put up the larger 

 and wetter plants; for, in addition to the fact 

 that they are not serviceable for specimens of any 

 considerable length, the chief drawback to the 

 use of the envelopes is, that any moist substance 

 stored in them for long, is liable to loosen the 

 gum by which their several parts are fastened 

 together. These squares of paper may con- 



