DECEMBER. 553 



And yet, as tlie rays of morning feebly strike upon 

 the tall columnar forms of elm, or ash, or beech, or 

 oak, which seem marbled with rings of white, or 

 grey, yellow, or green, some faint traces still present 

 themselves of continuous vegetation, though in a 

 diminished form ; and if the eye strictly scrutinizes 

 these verdant tufts and mosaic markings on the vari- 

 ous barks, a host of what at first sight appear to be 

 minute flowers, are seen rearing their tender forms 

 from purplish brown imbricated fronds, or bidentated 

 leaves of the tenderest green. These are the urns or 

 capsules of the Jungermannice, a distinct race from the 

 mosses, though closely allied to them in habit, which 

 part into four divisions, scattering around their brown 

 sporales of dust, intermixed with minute chain-like 

 bodies, whose precise use has not hitherto been cer- 

 tainly defined.* The urns of the Jungermannice 

 mature rapidly in damp weather, and some of them 

 are elevated upon such transparent stalks, that they 

 appear to simulate the Grordian worms often met with 

 amidst their tiny foliage. 



Bogs, mountains, and damp rivulet sides, are the 

 habitation of the Jungermannice, where they flourish 

 in perfection, and no doubt contribute, by their spongy 

 retention of water, to form those chrystal-dropping 

 fountains, that delight the eye and refresh the lips of 

 the weary traveller, who pauses, half worn out with 

 toil, amidst the dim overshadowing glens into which 

 he has penetrated. Even the rocks on the sea shore 

 are often covered with the armour' like foliage of these 

 minute plants, which of a sombre purple, finely con- 



* In the Exploratory Notices for January, I have mentioned what 

 appears to me the purpose they are designed for. 



