Your letter of the 27th was quickly followed by the picture 



which I was delighted to see. You did not reckon wrongly in saying 

 that I would like it. It will prove a constant delight as I look at 

 it over my study table. I shall have it framed and hung in the li- 

 brary, where its distinguished faces will be a constant inspiration. 

 I thank you warmly for the thought fulness which suggested sending for 

 it for me. 



I have been digging like a slave siiv:e Christmas at the keys to 

 the larger genera of mosses, and am thankful to say that I have the job 

 nearly completed. To construct the key to the genus Hypnum,with its 

 200 species, las been almost a herculean task. I have almost accomp- 

 lished it , however, after a fa s hi on , whi c h I pray may prove better than 

 my fears. Nov; I wish some one would undertake the Herculeo -Augean 

 task of "cleaning out" the alleged species of the N. A. mosses. I think 

 the shrinkage would amount to 10 or 12 per cent. 



My wife came down with the influenza on Thursday and has been in 

 bed v/ith it ever since. She is progres sing , however , and will be up to- 

 morrow I hope. Otherwise the family is well. 



Your humble servant has not time to extend his communication fur- 

 ther today as he has a delightful engagement to meet at ten o'clock- — 

 with a dentist. With warmest regards to Mrs. Deane , 



