14 POPULAR HISTORY OF LICHENS. 



the physical sciences^ with such success as may well en- 

 courage others to follow their example : they are by nature 

 better fitted than men to collect and preserve minute and 

 delicate organisms ; and we see no reason why they should 

 not be equally capable of examining and describing, did they 

 direct their energies or acumen in this direction. The Poet 

 too, whose highest aspiration ought to be to describe Nature, 

 and who frequently borrows his imagery from the beauties of 

 creation, ought to ber well acquainted with at least the general 

 features of Natural History. An ignorance of this subject 

 however is too often, we fear, betrayed in his productions. 

 As a humble illustration bearing on our present subject, the 

 poet^Gray speaks of the 



c{ Rude and moss-grown beech 



while any tyro in Lichenology might have taught him the 

 inappropriateness of such an expression, for the bark of this 

 tree remains comparatively smooth, although it is liable to 

 separate, as its age increases, in annular masses; and it is ha- 

 bited by Graphidea and Lecidea, while it is seldom or never 

 the habitat of the Eamalinas, Usneas, Physcias, or Corni- 

 cularias, which constitute the familiar " beard" or " moss" 

 of aged trees. We have often regretted the many valuable 

 opportunities annually lost of improving our knowledge of 

 natural history in general, and certain branches thereof, of 



