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Report of the Lichen Department for 1921 
It givcvs me much pleasure to report that great enthusiasm has been mani- 
fested this year in the study of Lichens. Not only have specimens been received 
from many of our members, but there have been a number ot inquiries regarding 
what books the Curator would recommend for the beginner. 
This inquiry was taken up once before ^ It is important enough to add to 
these recommendations a few comments. In the report, the beginner has two 
books recommended, Schneider's "A Guide to the Study of Lichens" and 
Fink's "The Lichens of Minnesota", that are now unfortunately out of print. 
The Curator believes that they are of sufficient value to warrant the student to 
make an effort to get second-hand copies. This is especially true for students 
in the eastern section of our country. For students of California, Dr. Hasse's 
"The Lichen Flora of Southern California"^ or Dr. Herres' "The Lichen Flora 
of the Santa Cruz Peninsula" ^ are to be recommended. Then, by all means, get 
Mrs. Harris' articles and those of Prof. Sargent. I am sure Mr. Chamberlain 
will help him to get these. 
As soon as the beginner feels that he is beginning to know a little about 
Lichens, he will want to acquire other books. He will then, by all means want 
Bridsh Lichens" ^, published by the British Museum. The author of these 
two fine books, has written also a small book, "A Handbook of the British Lich- 
ens", based on the larger work. It gives detailed descriptions of the families 
and the genera, but only distinguishing characters for the species. This little 
book will be found quite worth having. Of course, it enumerates some species 
that we do not have, and fails to mention many that we have but that are not 
found in the British Isles; there are, however, a great many that are common to 
both countries. 
Our list of Contributors, this year, is headed by Mr. George L. Moxley, and 
Dr. P. O. Schallert. Mr. Moxley sends fine specimens collected in California; 
Dr. Schallert is quite an indefatigable collector of North Carolina Lichens. 
Other contributors are Mrs. H. F. Robertson, Mr. H. V. M. Halsey, Prof. John 
L. Sheldon, Prof. R. H. Denniston, Dr. O. E. Jennings, and Mrs. M. A. Noble, 
to all of whom, the Curator extends sincere thanks. 
It is to be hoped, that the coming year will be just as enthusiastic a one in 
Lichen study. 
Respectfully submitted, 
Charles C. Plitt 
Baltimore, Md., Dec. 20, 192 1 
1 Report for 1919. The Bryologist, XXIII, p. 15, 1920. 
2 Contrib. U. S. Nat. Herb. Vol. 17, part I. Washington, 1910. 
^ Proc. Wash. Acaa. Sci. May. 1910. 
^ A Monograph of the British Lichens. By A. Lorrain Smith, F. L. S. Part I, first, 
Edit., 1894, second edit., 1918, and Part II, 1911. 
