—90- 



From the writer's point of view the work could be improved in usefulness- 

 along two important lines; by the description of many more of the import- 

 ant variations, either as forms or varieties and by the more abundant use of 

 critical and comparative notes. It may be added that this is not an oversight 

 on the part of the editors, but a deliberately prejudged plan. How2ver, the 

 authors have been allowed considerable individuality. Dr. Andrews describes six 

 varieties in connection with thirty-nine species of Sphagnum, but he gives 

 practically no notes. Fortunately Dr. Andrews has furnished the readers of 

 The Bryologist with very much more exhaustive notes than would have been 

 possible in this work. We hope that the other authors will somewhere publish 

 a similar set of notes as they must be in possession of much valuable informa- 

 tion that will perish with them unless it is published outside the North American 

 Flora. 



Mrs. Britton's work shows almost no notes, two varieties under Ditrichum 

 and four forms under Ceratodon purpureus. 



Mr. Williams has inserted frequent notes of the greatest helpfulness, but 

 recognizes no varieties and does not describe forms. Dicranella heteromalla 

 orthocarpa (Hedw.) E. G. B. is not even differentiated as a form, but the species 



is described as having the ' 'capsule erect or nodding usually more or 



less curved and becoming furrowed and contracted under the oblique mouth 

 when dry and empty." Surely such omissions are not helpful, as the straight- 

 capsuled form is overwhelmingly preponderant along the Atlantic seaboard and 

 correspondingly infrequent inland, at least in New England. 



The reduction of Dicranum viride to D. fulvum will come as a surprise tO' 

 most of us. It may be that intergrading forms are more abundant than has been 

 supposed. The writer's limited experience with the two species has shown 

 D. fulvum as an exclusively rock-growing species and D. viride as usually found 

 on decayed wood. 



Whatever adverse criticisms may have been made above, it is in no way 

 meant to belittle the great and lasting value of the work. At no other time or 

 place in the history of American botany has there ever been such an abundance 

 of material for producing a complete and authoritative work on North American 

 mosses and there is every indication that this wealth of opportunity has been 

 used skillfully and conscientiously. For the student of our mosses Volume 

 Fifteen will have no equal or substitute. 



A. J. Grout. 



We learn that the valuable European moss collection of Dr. G. Schellen- 

 berg, Berlin-Steglitz, Zimmermannstrasse 9 /I I, embracing about 20,000 numbers 

 is now offered for sale. — Editor. 



It has been suggested by Mrs. Annie Morrill Smith that an informal gather- 

 ing of those members of the Sullivant Moss Society who may attend the coming 

 Atlanta meeting of the A. A. A. S. would be a very pleasant occasion. This 

 is worth bearing in mind. — Editor. 



