BKITISH LICHENS. 



3l 



Select well-groicn and complete specimens. I have seen some raeu con- 

 teuted with a mere fragment of a specimen, destitute of any apothecia, 

 and showing nothing of the margin, where often much of the distinctive 

 character of a species lies. It is as though a single stone from a house 

 would serve to show the style of architecture. It is quite true that some 

 species are rarely found in fruit, but this is the exception rather than the 

 rule. 



Collect every species with ivliich you are not acquainted. By doing this 

 much rubbish may be taken home, but it is easily disposed of, whereas 

 good specimens may be passed over which no other opportunity may ever 

 present for collecting. The most advanced Lichenologist often finds in 

 his vasculum at the end of a day's excursion much which home examina- 

 tion proves to be of no value, while some specimen he thought but little 

 of when he gathered it is the gem of his day's work. 



Fold up each specimen in paper, and lurite o?i it date and locality of 

 growth the moment it is gathered. Some species are very delicate, such as 

 Caliciums and Coniocybes, and would be destroyed by the rubbing of 

 others against them ; but all are the better for protection. The import- 

 ance of recording on each the locality will soon be discovered, by the 

 additional advantage it gives to specimens, besides being a contribution 

 to the Flora of the district. 



Remove as little of the rock or tree as is consistent with obtaining a good 

 specimen. Facility in using the hammer and chisel will only be acquired 

 by practice and a few bruises of the baud. When the cleavage of the 

 rock favours the operation of removing specimens all is well, but in cases 

 where igneous rock has to be dealt with, or where the Lichen grows on 

 the edges of the laminae, considerable difficulty will be experienced. Let 

 it be borne in mind that a succession of steady, smart taps will accom- 

 plish the object more successfully than one violent blow, whether the 

 rock be hard or soft. In removing corticolous species less skill is required, 

 but if the collector should cut too deep into the tree he may discover 

 himself to be the object of a pursuit by the owner of the property, quite 

 as earnest as that he has himself shown after the Lichens. 



Taking for granted that a fair collection of Lichens has been 

 seciu'ed, and that attention has been paid to the hints given above, the 

 student will now direct his steps homeward, where he will require a few 

 directions, with which I shall conclude my paper, on the home study of 

 Licliens. 



In the home study of Lichens, not the least important subject we 

 have to dwell upon is the application of chemical tests for the deter- 

 mining of species. 



That certain Lichens contained colouring matter which could be 

 made available for dyeing cloth is a fact that has been made known for 

 many years, indeed some authors have gone so far as to say there are 

 allusions to the blue and purple colours procured from them for this 

 purpose in the Bible, (Ezekiel xxvii., v. 7,) but it is only within the last 

 twenty years that Lichenologists have sought to turn this character of 

 Lichens into a means for distingtiislung species. A solution of iodine 



