abouud. He will perceive the larger aiid more conspicuous ones 

 without difficulty, but it will require experience and a practiced eye 

 to detect the minute, often almost invisible forms, which, however 

 they may seem to differ, have yet a bond of connection with the 

 largest and most beautiful. It is the tracing of such connections 

 that lends its greatest attraction to the study of nature. 



He or she (for ladies are by no means to be excluded from the 

 ranks of the Lichenists, and they have been among the best students) 

 who would collect Lichens, will need a somewhat special outfit. As 

 a place of deposit for the plunder, the common tin vasculum may be 

 used, or, as Lichens do not wither, a basket may be carried. I 

 have found it more convenient than either to have a coat with verj' 

 large pockets on the inside of the skirts, which are very capacious 

 and serve also to carry the hammer and the wrapping paper, and 

 the indispensable luncheon for an all-day tramp. As Lichens are 

 often brittle when dry, it is well to moisten them so as to make them 

 soft and flexible. Eock specimens should be wrapped in paper to 

 prevent bruising by attrition, and the more delicate plants, like Ca- 

 licium, should be well wrapped up and put into a separate pocket or 

 the vasculum. A small sponge is useful to carry water, as dry 

 Lichens might ■ be broken in detaching. The crustaceous earth 

 lichens should be taken with a good thickness of soil to keep them 

 entire, and they will crumble less easily if the soil is moist and they 

 are well wrapped up. A well-tempered knife with large blades is 

 indispensable. A very good knife of this kind is made at New 

 Britain, Conn. A poorer knife, which it is not so necessary to keep 

 sharp, is good to separate earth lichens from the soil. The bark 

 of trees is most easily detached in spring and early summer, and it 

 is advantageous to carry as little timber about as possible. Small 

 branches may be cut off entire. Lichens should not be scraped from 

 rocks. For their collection there is needed a cold-chisel, which may 

 be six or seven inches long, of half -inch steel, well tempered but not 

 too hard, and should be carried in a sheath to be attached to the in- 

 side of the coat. If placed in the pocket it will soon eat its way 

 through and be lost. The hammer may be carried in one of the 

 large pockets. A common geological hammer will do, but I have 

 preferred a combined hammer and hatchet, the latter being very 

 useful in many cases where the knife is insufficient, as on large 

 branches or very hard dry wood. The blade, however, should be 



