465 
THE MOSSES OF WEST LANCASHIRE. 
By J. A. WHELpon anp ALBERT Wixson. 
m a bryological point of view West Lancashire (y.-c. 60) ~ 
hitherto been practically unex seen and, so far as we can discov 
there is no complete catalo oguee very ia isolated records of ite 
mosses and hepatics. In t hee eparation of this list we have 
po ede been unable to paaas much information from the records 
of the pas 
The only published bryological holt we have faung are ane 
casual references to one or two species of interest in Mr. 
Stabler’s articles on the ‘* Mosses and pe atics of Wied” 
(Naturalist, 1896-7), and a short list of nee found near Lancaster 
by Mr. amilton (Naturalist, 1898, e 28). This meagre 
literature is no doubt to be attributed to the remote and somewhat 
ions e cou 
unapproachable by hie appear to have ae totally neces by 
collectors. These secluded ‘ocahiten, however, yield many inter- 
esting pee aie well repay the long and wean) tramps necessary 
to secu 
anical purposes West Lancashire may be very naturally 
ie conveniently divided into three main divisions, each presenting 
ed differences as to surface, elevation, and geological formeuon, 
. The Norra Drviston is separate from the remainder o 
vice- -county by the river Lune as far as its rita with the river 
tures, ei pow with its numerous woods, scars, and crags, its h 
an a ene limestone pavements, and ‘ pot-holes,’’ con- 
stitute “this re the most interesting ioe ay Be oc of the 
three, and to im vei: of situation it owes its rich flora. The 
portion of the vice-county south of the Lune is pre from 
Yorkshire by a line of lofty hills. ta high road running south 
from Lancaster to Preston affords a ates ai means of dividing 
this southern oe into the two Sten, east an 
2. The t Drviston consists lar ely of elevated, bleak, and 
barren gore ae known as “fells,” intersected by de dee ep W wooded 
glens, or * cloughs,” each with its never-failing stream of sparkling 
These streams are derived from extensive spongy peat-beds, 
kok latter are in turn fed by frequent rains and cloud-fog. The 
remainder of the division is less rgtiet ny consisting of upland 
ce with some low land on the banks of the pr rincipal rivers. 
rata are atiibat entirely of the Yeselale series (grits and 
Noes or Botany.—Vot. 87. [Nov. 189 
