582 G. T. HARRIS, NOTE ON THE SLIDES OF 



On closer examination the broad, distant leaves are quite dis- 

 tinctive. 



Fissidens algarvicus (Solms.) was first recorded for the British 

 Isles by Mr. G. B. Savery at Silverton, S. Devon. It has later 

 been found near Cheltenham. Originally found in Portugal, 

 it appears to reach in England its most northerly limit. It is 

 interesting to note that a very closely allied species, Fissidens- 

 Orrii (Lindb.) (= F. tequendamensis, Mitt.), was recorded in 

 1854 from Dublin. Dr. Braithwaite pointed out the suspicious 

 proximity to the locality of the Glasnevin Botanic Gardens, 

 and certainly the species so far has not been refound, so is ex- 

 cluded from the British Moss Flora. 



Fissidens bryoides is at once the commonest and most variable 

 of our species. The border is usually strong and continuous 

 to the apex, where are a few minute denticulations. It varies 

 considerably in size from a quarter of an inch to an inch or more 

 in height. It is densely gregarious, and it is not difficult to 

 recognise it by its general habit and habitat after a little experi- 

 ence. The form inconstans has the fruit sometimes terminal,, 

 at other times lateral, but its leaves and structure remain 

 fairly true to type. 



Fissidens Curnowii was originally described by Schimper as 

 a variety of bryoides under the name caespitans, but Mitten 

 later raised it to specific rank as Fissidens Curnowii in honour 

 of W. Curnow, who apparently first discovered it in England 

 in 1868. Mr. H. N. Dixon in his Student's Handbook of British 

 Mosses gives it an intermediate position as a sub-species. It is 

 a rare species and the few records for it are from near the sea in 

 the south-west of England, though it has been recorded from 

 comparatively northern stations. 



Both Curnow and Ralfs describe their localities as aquatic. 

 My locality in Sidmouth is a damp, not wet, sandstone cave, 



