THE 



CALCUTTA JOURNAL 



OF/ 



NATURAL HISTORY 



Muscologia Itineris Assamici ; or, a Description of Mosses, 

 collected during the Journey of the Assam Deputation, in 

 the years 1835 and 1836. By William Griffith, Esq. 

 Assistant Surgeon, Madras Establishment. Read before 

 the Linncsan Society of London, March 6th, 1838.* 



The accompanying collection forms part of the large 

 collections made during the journey of the late Deputation 

 from Calcutta into Upper Assam. By far the greater 

 portion was collected on the Khasiya Hills, an elevated 



* This paper, which was written in 1 836, was read before the Linnsean 

 Society in March, 1838. I fear that it may not appear to be alto- 

 gether in good taste to publish in India, what was not published in 

 England, for I have implicit confidence in the soundness of the judg- 

 ment which suggested that the paper should stand over. 



Still I wish to place on record the only connected botanical exami- 

 nations which have resulted from the Assam Deputation, the more 

 particularly because most of the species are undescribed, and almost all 

 the specimens, from which the descriptions were drawn up, have been 

 destroyed. 



With the feelings of an author, those of a botanist are mingled. Prio- 

 rity is the bone of contention for which the great majority of botanists 

 are always wrangling. It appears to me evident that if a botanist 

 were to come to India, visit the places I have, and publish his materials, 



3 o 



