EXPLOEATOEY NOTICES FOE JANTJAEY. 



The practical Botanist need not be idle in fine 

 weather even at this seemingly ungenial season ; for 

 Cryptogamic vegetation is now in its highest per- 

 fection among several tribes. Rocks, and gloomy 

 pattering spots among trees, should now be examined 

 for the minute but exquisitely beautiful and curious 

 Jtuifjcrmannics, many of whose matured tlieca may 

 now be perceived in perfection. These if collected in 

 a semi-expanded state, may by the application of 

 water be made to burst under the eye ; or if placed 

 in a damp spot the over night will be found expanded 

 in the morning, like a cruciform flower at the end 

 of a long white transparent petiole, while a heap 

 of brown dust, the reproductive sporules of the plant 

 lies at its feet. Among this dust the microscope will 

 show a number of cliain-like processes, the use of 

 which has not been determined. I, however, conceive 

 them to be intended to scatter the sporules from the 

 theca3 by their violent contraction and dilatation at 

 the time it Unfolds, which may be thus exempli- 

 fied. The Jungermannia is excessively susceptible 

 to moisture, shrivelling up quickly without it, and 

 remaining in a state of abeyance, but some portion of 

 heat is required to expand the theca? ; the moment 

 this is applied its valves burst open, exposing their 

 delicate contents, and the irritation thus occasioned 

 by the light appears to cause a violent contraction 



