APPLIANCES AND MATERIAL REQUIRED. 7 



has recently appeared, and in this we have all the newest 

 discoveries duly recorded and described ; the size is very 

 convenient for the pocket. Wilson's " Bryologia Britan- 

 nica " is invaluable ; but as it is out of print it can only be 

 met with rarely in second-hand book catalogues, and the 

 price ranges from three to six guineas, according to the con- 

 dition of the book. In this the descriptions are excellent, 

 being those of one of the most able bryologists this country 

 has produced. Besides excellent descriptions, there are also 

 figures of every moss described, and the later plates are 

 very good. This work, having been published in 1855, is 

 quite behind the time in some respects ; but a student who 

 makes good use of this work will find that many of the diffi- 

 culties surrounding the subject will be dispelled. Another 

 very valuable work is Schimper's "Synopsis Muscorum Euro- 

 paeorum " ; costs 28.$-., and contains descriptions of all the 

 European species. In the second edition, published 1876, 

 we have a fairly complete record of bryological discoveries 

 so far as Europe is concerned. The work is entirely in 

 Latin, and there are eight plates illustrative of the various 

 genera. The descriptions are very ample, and the notes on 

 the comparative characters of the various species remark- 

 ably useful. 



Lesquereux and James' " Manual of American Mosses " 

 will also be found of great assistance to British students, as 

 it contains descriptions of at least two-thirds of our native 

 mosses ; this costs 24^. But the most beautiful and valu- 

 able work is the " British Moss Flora," by Dr. R. Braith- 

 waite ; in this the various species are graphically described 

 and illustrated, the illustrations being those of a master's 

 hand. The work is being issued in parts, and when 

 finished will be one of the best that has yet appeared. 



Every moss student requires a microscope, and, when 

 possible, it is well to have a really good one. These instru- 

 ments vary in price, a first-class microscope being an 

 expensive luxury ; but there are some very good instru- 

 ments to be obtained at most moderate prices. A great 

 amount of good work may be done with even a cheap 

 microscope ; in fact, much of the best work that has been 



