— 6o — 
one cluster on a clay bank. Dr. Wainio this time called the material Cla- 
donia mitrula. This statement is submitted primarily to show that the 
species is difficult to distinguish and that the Iowa material is not certain, 
and in no sense to cast reproach on the work of any other lichenist. It is 
only those of very limited experience in taxonomic work, or who have very 
poor powers of observation, who suppose that a really good worker may not 
sometimes make different diagnosis of material that is intermediate between 
two species, the difference being due rarely to incomplete consideration of 
every diagnostic character, and no doubt more often to the fact that material 
from the same Cladonia cluster may often .show a considerable amount of 
variation. 
Material from Battle Lake and Leaf Hills, in Minnesota, collected by the 
present writer, is like the Iowa material, which is in turn doubtful. Henry 
Willey reported the species in his “ New Bedford Lichens,” but Dr. Wainio 
seems not to have known of this material. Dr. Wainio cites a single Ameri- 
can specimen in his Monograph. This is cited doubtfully from Carolina. 
Thus there is room for doubt as to whether this species has really been found 
in America. The plant occurs on soil, especially clay, and is known in 
Europe and Asia. Grinnell, Iowa. 
MOUNTING MOSSES— SOME HINTS. 
J. Franklin Collins. 
In the September, 1903, issue of this journal Mr. Chamberlain described 
the method which was employed a few years ago to fasten moss envelopes to 
herbarium sheets in the Brown University Herbarium. It may be of interest to 
readers of The Bryolo.gist to learn of the method which has superseded it. 
The latter method has been used more than two years in the University 
Herbarium, as well as in*my own private one. Gummed wafers are utilized 
instead of pins. The particular wafers which we use are made of a half-inch 
circle of white paper, well gummed on both sides. They may be obtained 
for a few cents a thousand from almost any stationer. To use them to the 
best advantage a single wafer is graped by the edge, with slender pointed 
forceps, and moistened on both sides. It is then thrust between the envelope 
and mounting paper, the former having been placed in the proper position 
on the latter before the wafer is moistened. A firm finger-pressure for one 
or two seconds over the wafer is sufficient to cause it to adhere securely. The 
forceps points are withdrawn as soon as the pressure with the finger is ap- 
plied. Unless the envelope is a large one a single wafer is generally suffi- 
cient. 
In case the envelope has to be transferred to another sheet it is instantly 
removed by one sweep of a paper knife, or other blunt-edged instrument, be- 
neath the envelope. The wafer usually splits, leaving part on the sheet and 
part on the envelope. This slight disfigurement of the sheet, which is often 
soon covered by another envelope, may be regarded by some as an objection 
to the use of the wafers. This disfigurement only occurs, however, when 
