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É Hepatic Mosses of Massachusetts. 465 
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ART. XVI. — ATTEMPT TO ASCERTAIN SOME OF THE 
HEPATIC MOSSES OF MASSACHUSETTS, WITH RE- 
MARKS. By Jons Lewis Russet ; Corresponding Member of 
the “ Boston Society of Natural History,” &c. (Read March 17th, 
1841.) 
In the year 1821, the Reverend Lewis D. Schwein- 
itz published a small tract, which he entitled a 
“Specimen of a Systematic Arrangement and De- 
scription of the Cryptogamous Plants. of North 
America, comprising a diagnostic description of all 
the Hepatic Mosses hitherto observed in North Amer- 
ica, with ample descriptions of a number of new 
species." This valuable little work, I have made 
the guide of what research I have been able to 
pursue in the study of the plants of my present me- 
moir. Next to this, I know of no other authority, 
except Muhlenberg's Catalogue, and the Massachu- 
setts’ Catalogue, the latter, especially, a mere array 
of names, until we come to the unrivalled work of 
Professor Hooker on the Jungermannie of Great 
Britain. On the first and last of these works, I have 
mainly depended in determining some of the few 
species of this vicinity, and occasional specimens 
from other localities generally presented me by 
friends. It were almost unnecessary to state, that, 
in the study of these minute plants, often barren 
(without fructification), errors may have occurred ; 
but great interest in their research and their intrinsic 
beauty, have prompted me, nevertheless, to exertion. 
To determine more accurately the exact Flora of 
