- 63 - 
PART II. MOSSES WITH HAND-LENS AND MICROSCOPE. 
J. Franklin Collins. 
The second part of Dr. Grout’s new book is a pamphlet of about the 
same size as, and a continuation of, Part I. It completes the family 
Dicranaceae with keys and descriptions of thirty-two species and several 
varieties, and includes the genera ' Ceratodon , Scclania, Trematodon, 
Dicranella , Blindia, Dicranodotium, Dicranum and Leucobryum. The 
Grimmiacece comprises the genera Hedwigia and Ptychomitrium, each 
with a single species, Grimmia, with ten species and a few varieties, and 
Rhacomitrium with six species. Ephemeraceoe includes the small genera 
Nanomitrium, Ephemerum, Acaulon and Physcomitrella. The remaining 
two-fifths of Part II comprises the family Tortulacece. Under this topic 
about thirty species and several varieties of the genera Phascum , Astomum , 
Weisia , Gymnostomum, Didymodon , Barbula, Trichostomum, Tortella , 
Pottia, Pterygoneurum, Aloina, Desmatodon and Tortula are described. 
Both the text and the copious illustrations are of the same high grade as in 
Parti. (See The Bryoloist, 6 1104.) 
In botanical works which particularly aim to instruct, interest and main- 
tain the interest of the novice illustrations have long played an important 
part. Unfortunately for the beginner these illustrations are sometimes far 
from being above criticism as regards accuracy, and at times are positively 
misleading, as many an older student may personally recollect. In repro- 
ducing so many of his illustrations from the Bryologia Europaea and Sulli- 
vant’s leones — the two great illustrated bryological works of Europe and 
America respectively — Dr. Grout has left few, if any, openings for criticism 
of this nature. 
It is undoubtedly impossible to mechanically reproduce a plate and have 
it equal to the orginal. As a test of the quality of the plates in Part II the 
reviewer has made a careful comparison with the original of each plate illus- 
trating Dicranacece which has been reproduced from the Bryologia, the 
leones or Limpricht. When placed side by side a difference is at once 
detected, yet a difference which in no way involves the question of inaccur- 
acy or carelessness. We see prints from carefully made, full-sized, photo- 
graphically reproduced plates of the originals. For all ordinary working 
purposes the beginner (and most others) will find them as useful as the ori- 
ginals and far less expensive. 
f Some of the moss names will not be wholly approved by certain bryolo- 
gists but as this involves largely a question of personal conviction or opinion, 
and in no way impairs the value of the work, it would be out of place to dis- 
cuss them here. The accented technical names will be greatly appreciated by 
most beginners. No student of mosses within the Gray’s Manual region 
should be without “ Mosses with Hand-Lens and Microscope.” 
Providence, R. I. 
