2 
ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO BRITISH MOSSES. - BEB 
to improve upon it, ang nor has put efore the world the result of 
his labours——an Tilustr. d Guide to British Mosses, in which the 
Key has ‘‘been tho Fonts revised, and in great part rewritten” 
aust am mplifie in various ways. For instance, each genus has an 
introductory heading touching on the distinguishing characters of 
the British species, and conveying valuable hints as to how the 
The introduction forms a new feature. Chapters i.—vi. deal with 
‘¢ Practical Kxamination of Specimens,” mentio: hat apparatus 
is oe and the method of using it. But the ferentest improve- 
ment is the liberal employment of plates—59 in number, and 
ounthatie over 2400 figures, to illustrate all the species. In them 
we find a practical illustration of ro page s industry and castes 
going soncearerrye For he has only made his drawings direct 
from nature by means of the ee am fe but has himself litho- 
graphed tate to prevent their losing correctness in course of being 
transferred to the stone by some unbryological hand. He has very 
wisely adopted a uniform scale of magnification throughout: thus 
leaves are enlarged 15 times, leaf-apices 60 times, and leaf-cells 
180 times, ‘‘so that the figures show at a glance not merely — 
shape, but their comparative size.”’ “The nomenclature of Schim 
per’s Synopsis is used; and the ner wigi Ps British species Spears 
to be 576, which happens to be the number given in Hobkirk’s 
he 
Flora. On the other hand, some forms of Bryum, weaned. 
Ulota, Campylopus, &c., which stand as species in Hobkirk’s Synopsis 
are lowered to the position of varieties 
is not as good as could be desired. The small type of the mi is 
_ the lar, ype eric i 
is an 
‘th” some eight or nine times), we regard the book as entirely 
epigne et and cordially recommend os as a specimen of ingenious 
industrious workmanship, and as affording most serviceable 
an valuable aid to all who are tnlenestod in our British Moss-Flora. 
A. GEPpP, 
