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as possible. Extreme forms, intermediate forms, depauperate forms, all 
contribute to the series of which the species is the unit of aggregation. 
Subspecies, varieties, forms, may be necessary, but these will readily fall 
into their proper places when the specific type is once understood. The 
dimorphism which every species exhibits, and which is more apparent in 
some than in others, is only to be apprehended by a close study of the inter- 
mediate forms. From a taxonomic standpoint the recognition of these 
dimorphic tendencies is most important, as they are the marks by which 
the evolution of the type from its lower to its higher forms is shown. 
In conclusion allow me to say that it is to be hoped that when this blood- 
less nomenclatorial war is over and when musty tomes and rotten types 
have done their worst and when personal aggrandizement has given way to 
the claims of science, more time will be found for the study of the making 
and the delimitation ot species. Until that time it is to be feared that many 
a budding bryologist, full of life and hope, will be nipped by the frosts of 
many discouragements and driven to other fields in which more, satisfactory 
results await less exacting labors. Rosemont, New Jersey. 
HOW TO COLLECT AND STUDY LICHENS. 
Bruce Fink. 
Presented at the meeting of the Sullivant Moss Chapter, Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 31, 1904. 
Introductory. 
It is a very real pleasure to the writer to be able to contribute to the 
meeting of the “ Moss Chapter’’ something which he hopes may prove more 
or less interesting and suggestive. It was his privilege to be present at the 
meeting at Columbus, where the beginnings of the organization were made, 
and that meeting was so thoroughly enjoyable and instructive that he feels 
more keenly the loss at not being able to be at the present one. At the 
Columbus meeting, he expressed regrets that the lichenists could not have a 
similar society ; but since that time both the bryologists and the mycologists 
have appeared to be so willing to give us room that we hardly feel the need of 
any separate organization. Especially safe is it to state that every American 
worker in lichenology feels grateful to the “Moss Chapter” for opening the 
pages of The Bryologist for our articles on lichens. The work done there 
is already bearing fruit, and if the present writer can, by sending a paper to 
this meeting, aid those who have shown an interest in us and our work on 
the lichens, he will at the same time serve his own ends and those of lichen- 
ologists generally quite effectually. So to the matter of collecting and study- 
ing lichens without further introductory statement, except to say that only a 
popular statement can be given in the short time. 
Collecting. 
Lichens can be collected at any time in the year, but many of them are 
more likely to show the spore characters better when collected in the fall. 
They may be collected also on any kind of a day, but more effective work 
will be done on pleasant days, while many of the minute forms are more 
easily detected when damp and therefore brighter. The beginner will find 
