4 P. DUSEN, MOSSES FROM THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA. 



Lastly J. Bråun and Preuss have collected some mosses in the Cameroons-territory, defined 

 by V. F. Brotherus. 1 



In 1886 the number of mosses, obtained up to that time from the West of Africa, 

 was estiraated by K. Muller at about 200, and subsequently 43 more have become known 

 from the same quarter. To this total of 243, or thereabouts, should now be added those 

 new mosses, which were collected by me during my stay in the Cameroons in 1890 — 

 1892. They have all been determined by K. Muller in Hallo, and the number of pre- 

 viously unknown species, which that eminent bryologist found in my collections, amounts 

 to more than 300. The great majority of these Avere taken in the coast-district of the 

 Cameroons-territory and the lower parts of the Cameroons Mountain, not a few on higher 

 slopes of the same pile and those of the Rumpi. A small number were also taken during 

 a short stay in the Islands of Fernando Po and at Old Calabar and Monrovia. 



As by many reasons I deemed it dcsirable to get the new species described as soon 

 as possible, I commenced drawing up their diagnoses myself, but circumstances, which it 

 was impossible for me to foresee, prevented me from going through more than part of 

 the large material. The continuation of such a description is, however, secured, Dr V. F. 

 Brotherus in Helsingfors having been kind enough to promise his cooperation. This 

 division of the work, together with the travels I am about to enter upon, has caused me 

 to give up my original intention, which was to publish an account of the composition of 

 the mossvegetation in the Cameroons in connexion with the diagnoses of the new species. 

 Such a one may, however, be expected in the course of time. 



As to the situation of the places, mentioned in the Cameroons-colony, I refer to my 

 map of the North-West of that territory, which was published last year in the »Ymer» 2 

 periodical. 



It remains for me the pleasing duty to acknowledge the assistance I have received 

 from Messrs K. Muller and V. F. Brotherus. In the first place I have to express my 

 heartfelt gratitude to Mr Muller for determining the numerous species of my collection, 

 and my thanks are hardly less due to Mr Brotherus, who has given me the free use of 

 his African mosses of those genera, with which I have been occupied. From both of them 

 I have had the benefit of valuable advice and information. 



This first series includes 50 species; a second series will soon follow. 



1 Brotiiekus, V. F., Musci africani. 1. Englers But. Jahrb. 20. Band. (1894). 



2 Dusen, P., Oin Kamerunområdet. Med 1 karta. ymer». Tidskrift, utgifven af Svenska sällskapet för 

 antropologi och geografi. Stockholm. 1894. 



