Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA synopsisofbritis00hobk).pdf/9



It is not my desire that this little volume should be looked upon as anything more than what is expressed in the title, simply "," and as a kind of vade-mecum to the working Bryologist, as well as a guide to beginners. It is not altogether an original work, nor yet is it a mere compilation, for nearly every species has been carefully examined under the microscope before being described, and then the diagnoses compared with other works, principally that great text-book of British Bryologists, "Wilson's Bryologia Britannica." Besides this work, I have also largely consulted, and drawn from, Bruch and Schimper's "Bryologia Europæa," Schimper's "Synopsis," Dr. Mueller's "Synopsis," the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, the Bulletins of the Royal Botanical Societies of France and of Belgium; and last, but not least, the valuable papers recently contributed by Dr. Braithwaite to "Journal of Botany," "Grevillea," and the "Monthly Microscopical Journal," and also some papers by Mr. Mitten in the first-named publication.

In the general arrangement of the genera and species, I have mainly followed the "Bryologia Britannica," as I did not consider myself justified in departing widely from it, although many of our principal Muscologists look upon it as very faulty; but I did not hold my authority sufficient to alter what has become a classical arrangement amongst us: and more particularly as both Dr. Braithwaite and the Rev. J. Fergusson are engaged upon more critical examinations, prior to the publication of new and more natural arrangements. The Analysis of the Genera is principally founded upon the same part from Wilson, and is intended not as an arrangement, but merely a key.