24 



BRITISH 



MOSSES. 



Section IV. 



MODE OF COLLECTING AND EXAMINING MOSSES. 



Glasses he had, that little things display, 

 The beetle, panoplied in gems and gold, 

 A mailed angel on a battle-day ; 

 The mysteries that cups of flowers enfold, 

 And all the gorgeous sights which 

 Fairies do behold. 



Wordsworth. 



real advance in' the knowledge of mosses will ever be made until 

 they are collected and examined, and a few homely hints upon the 

 best way of doing these things may not be out of place. The study 

 is emphatically a winter pursuit. Winter days, without a doubt, 

 often hang very heavily. All the neighbours are too far off to visit or to be visited 

 in short light and rough weather, new books do not come in fast, and as dulness 

 feeds upon itself, those we do get we do not care to read. Stories about winter we 

 have in abundance, but they mock us with descriptions of clear blue skies and 

 frosty air ; and at this present time our sky is grey, our air damp, for it rained 

 yesterday, and it will probably rain again to-morrow. There is little for it but to 

 think how soon the shortest day will be here, and that " really this is a very 

 dreary place in the winter." 



Truly an unpleasant state of things. And perhaps, kind reader, if you open 

 this book on a winter day you may hail gladly some measure of relief ; and find it 

 you will in beginning the study of mosses. Something which can be carried on 

 in winter, and, in fact, is best done at that time of the year, which in the course 

 of one fine day will bring occupation in the house for many wet ones, and has 

 the excitement of a pursuit and the novelty of a fresh hunting ground, is not 

 without its advantages ; and all these conditions are fulfilled in the study of mosses ; 

 so you had better be a moss-trooper. 



