TJie Study of Mosses. 45 



(t Homes of Taste." Mr. Stark gives a long list of these, 

 amongst which are species of Hypnum, Orthoslichum, Polytri- 

 chum, Trichostomum, Andrea, Bryum, etc., etc. Of course the 

 natural habits of the mosses must be considered, some liking a 

 large allowance of moisture, and others preferring a situation 

 that is dry. 



"We do not think it is any argument against a system of 

 classification based on minute structure, that the determination 

 of genera or species requires the aid of the microscope, as, 

 thanks to the competition amongst excellent makers, instru- 

 ments sufficient to follow the researches of others can be obtained 

 for very moderate prices, and nine-tenths of the pleasure which 

 the moss tribe, or any other small plants whose parts are 

 minute, are able to afford to their admirers, must be obtained 

 through the medium of considerable magnification. On this 

 ground we confess to have some leaning towards the system of 

 Muller, but every arrangement in the present state of the 

 science must be regarded as provisional, and the consolation 

 for those who have to take the trouble of getting up an elabo- 

 rate nomenclature, to find it replaced a few years hence by 

 another, must be found in the fact that they cannot study 

 mosses upon any system without obtaining a large amount of 

 positive information, which must remain valuable, whatever 

 additions may be made to the store, or whether other genera 

 are destined to suffer the fate of Gymnostornum, and find them- 

 selves properly distributed amongst widely distant groups. 



In Mr. Berkeley's work the student will find the inestimable 

 advantage of several hundreds of beautifully-executed coloured 

 figures of native plants, and of their most important parts. By 

 these he will be materially assisted in the determination of 

 species, and also instructed what to see with the microscope in 

 the arrangement and form of cells, the character of the spore 

 vessel, the peristome, etc., etc. It is also proper to state that 

 although Mr. Berkeley modestly disclaims originality, he has 

 personally examined the objects described, and written his 

 account of them with the especial purpose of assisting the col- 

 lector of British specimens. The work is handsomely printed, 

 and the coloured illustrations of unusual merit. 



