Anginal Articles. 



THE LATE MR. WILLIAM WILSON: 

 NOTES ON HIS EARLY BRYOLOGICAL WORK. 



By J. Cash. 



{Read before the Manchester Cryptogamic Society.) 



Until Mr. Wilsou, when quite young, became interested in the botany 

 of his native county, the cryptogamia, both of Lancashire and Cheshire, 

 had been (except by one or two humble botanists in the neighbourhood 

 of Manchester) comparatively neglected. George Caley was one of the 

 first to pay attention to the bryology of these parts, and, as the 

 discoverer of at least one interesting species originally classed with the 

 Weissice, but now known under the familiar name of Discelium nudum, 

 his name is not likely to be forgotten in bryological history. Con- 

 temporary with him, and even more distinguished as a bryologist, was 

 Edward Hobson, to whose zeal and attainments testimony is borne by 

 Sir William Jackson Hooker in the pages of the M uscologia. Hobson's 

 career was almost ended when that of Wilson began. If the latter 

 proved the more successful bryologist of the two, it was owing, no 

 doubt, to his superior educational advantages, and to his greater leisure 

 .for study both at home and in the field. 



Wilson had, from the first, an innate love of nature. Possessing a 

 weakly constitution he was precluded from following the profession his 

 parents had marked out for him, and as a means of recruiting his 

 health much of his time, at suitable seasons, was spent out of doors. 

 What more natural than that he should turn his attention to the 

 fiowefs and mosses which grew in his path ? The study of these yielded 

 him mental occupation that was most acceptable and enjoyable, just as 

 their collection afforded him the requisite inducement to take the 

 exercise which was necessary for his physical strength. If Mr. Wilson 

 had not botanised in his younger days he would never in all probability 

 have reached the age of three score years and ten. 



It was about the year 1826 — possibly a little earlier — that Mr. 

 Wilson began his bryological studies. I have seen a little portfolio of 

 selected specimens, representing probably thirty species, gathered by 

 him about that time in the vicinity of Over, in Cheshire. They were 

 mostly common species. Amongst them was Aulacomnium androgynum^ 

 a moss which may stiU be found growing luxuriantly, but always 

 barren, on the sandy hedge banks about Over and Delamere. Another 

 was Bartramia pomi/ormis, which also is still to be found there. At first 

 Mr. Wilson studied phainogamous plants, and this study he continued 



