4 INTRODUCTION. 
which is represented by very few species in other parts of the 
world; and no species has yet been seen which corresponds with 
those with eurved or lunate cells at the base of the leaves, which 
predominate in the eastern archipelago. Schlotheimia evidently 
receives its maximum development in Brazil, and seems also 
confined to the eastern side of the Andes. Bartramioid Mosses 
are chiefly conspicuous in the number of species belonging to the 
section Breutelia, all of which are confined to the mountains, 
excepting a small species in South Brazil. 
Bryoid Mosses of the genus Mielichhoferia are numerous in 
the Andes, but have not been gathered in the mountains of the 
West-Indian Islands; of Brywm the greatest part of the nume- 
rous species are found in the region of the Andes. 
The most conspicuous group, for the abundance of its species 
and the variety of its forms, is that of the Hookeriex, which, in- 
cluding the genus Daltonia, contains about 200 species. Dal- 
tonia appears to be confined to the mountains, and chiefly to the 
Andes. Hookerieæ of the genera Cyclodictyon and Callicostella 
are spread over the whole region as far as South Brazil ; but Pi- 
lotrichum, as here restricted, seems confined to the West-Indian 
Islands and the cireumjacent portions of the mainland; two 
species are found about the regions drained by the Amazons, but 
none has been seen from more southern regions. 
Cryphiee extend from Mexico to South Brazil, the species on 
the western side of the Andes being similar to those found in 
Australia. 
Prionodon, a genus differing in little beyond its creeping pri- 
mary stem from the noble Spiridens, has one species (P. densus, 
Sw.) common to the West-Indian Islands, Central America, and 
the Equatorial, especially the Bogotean Andes, in which last 
region, however, it is associated with a number of closely allied 
but distinct species, none of which have been seen from Chili. 
Porotrichum, including its complete development Thamnium, 
produces a number of species, chiefly confined to the mountains 
of the islands and mainland. 
The Meteoria, abundant in species, appear generally distri- 
buted as far as South Brazil, but are chiefly confined to the 
eastern side of the Andes. 
The Hypnoid Mosses here enumerated under the name Sema- 
tophyllum are very abundant, from the West-Indian Islands to 
South Brazil. Entodon has many species, which occupy the same 
