HUMBLE FAMILIES IN GRAY. 1 79 



both in Europe and America, where they grow 

 more luxuriantly than here, and on them the 

 reindeer and caribou feed in seasons of short 

 commons. 



Particular species of lichens are found growing 

 in all parts of the world, and it is their cosmopoli- 

 tan habit that gives them a certain historical 

 interest. Evernia furfuracea} growing in erect 

 or pendulous tufts on trees in the Northern and 

 Southern United States, "has been found and 

 identified in the Egyptian coffins, having been 

 adopted, from its softness, to fill in the vacant 

 places." My correspondent, Corinne Hoyt Cole- 

 man, who has a keen scent for the curious in 

 Nature, and sees things with inspired eyes, sends 

 me from the New Hampshire woods the Usnea 

 barbata^ a species said to have been described by 

 Theophrastus the Greek philosopher, more than 

 two hundred years before the Christian era. One 

 loves to call to his mental vision the old Athe- 

 nian and his companions, in white robes and 

 sandals, taking their walks along the Ilissus and 

 over the neighboring hills, as did the Concord 

 sage and his friends by the shores of Musketaquid 

 and Walden, the "Cliffs" and "Caesar's Woods," 

 to seek the company of the dryads, and to be 

 refreshed and inspired by the Great Spirit of 



1 Lichens covered with a meal-like powder. 



2 Bearded moss. 



