PREFACE. 



rilHE aim of the following pages has been to present 



such descriptions of British Mosses as should be useful 



to the amateur who may desire to ascertain the names of 



such species as he chances to meet with. The language 



has been simplified as much as possible, and reference to 



minute detail and intricacy of structure has been avoided 



where practicable. Those who wish to pursue the study 



more deeply can do so by the aid of such standard works 



upon the subject as Wilson's "Bryologia Britannica" and 



Bruch and Schimper's "Bryologia Europaea." 



The illustrations have been etched on the copper and 



coloured by hand directly from the living specimen. A few 



doubtful natives or very rare kinds have been omitted, but 



with these exceptions every species has been given, and the 



greater part of them from specimens kindly furnished by Mr. 



Wilson. The author has also recognized Mr. Wilson's 



b 



