v&. . i , \ i ' . Prefatory Note. 



direction, and lay in store material for a more critical examin- 

 ation of this group in the future. 



It was the intention of Mr. Austin, of New Jersey, to pub- 

 lish a monograph of this group, but by his death his critical 

 knowledge of the Hepaticce is lost to the world. His private 

 collection, even, has crossed the ocean and is practically lost to 

 Americans. Some of Mr. Austin's work was left in manuscript 

 form, and all that he left is now in the writer's possession. 

 Much of it consists of mere fragments or notes on a few species. 

 A notable exception to this is the genus Riccia, on which his 

 notes and descriptions are very complete; the account of that 

 genus given here may be regarded as a condensation of Mr. 

 Austin's manuscript notes. On the Jungermaniacece, the larg- 

 est and most difficult order, Mr. Austin left almost nothing in 

 manuscript. 



In the preparation of this compilation the writer has made 

 use of every available means for making it complete and 

 authentic. Many thanks are due kind-hearted botanists for 

 assistance; especial mention is due the following. To Prof. 

 S. A. Forbes, for the loan of hepatic collections in the posses- 

 sion of the State Laboratory; to Prof. Sereno Watson for the 

 generous loan of the manuscript on the Californian Hepaticce, 

 originally prepared for the u Botany of California," but not 

 published; to Prof. Watson and the other authorities at Cam- 

 bridge for access to the extensive libraries and collections; to 

 Dr. H. A. Bolander and others for generous contributions of 

 specimens particularly from the Pacific coast. 



No attempt has been made to publish new species, the 

 writer believing that too many have already been described 

 from insufficient data, and considering it far more necessary to 

 set in order those already published. 



It is hoped that persons receiving this work will aid the 

 further and critical study of this group by communicating 

 specimens of all the forms found in their own localities. 



SYRACUSE, N. Y., November 10, 1883. 



