Wilson's notes on British muscology. 377 



fontinaloides ; in all the Polytriclia, and in Entosthodon Tem- 

 pletoni. 



\\. Splachnum — This genus of Mosses is very peculiarly 

 distinguished from all others by the arrangement of its seeds 

 or sporules. They are disposed in radiating lines containing 

 from eight to fourteen or more sporules, and these lines seem 

 to be also connected together in fours ; the number varies in 

 different species. This character appears to be constant, 

 but is most observable in Splachnum sphcericum. No distinct 

 tabular sporidia have been detected, but there seems to be in 

 this respect considerable analogy between this tribe of Mosses 

 and the Funni. 



12. Encalypta qffinis, Engl. Bot. — This is a perfectly dis- 

 tinct species, called by the authors of Bnjologia Eiiropcea, 

 E. commutata., destitute of peristome, and the leaves gradually 

 taperin<T to an acute point. It is common on the tops of 

 the Breadalbane mountains. 



13. E. streptocarpa. — In the year 1832, before the appear- 

 ance of the Bryologia Europcea, the writer of this had de- 

 tected a double peristome in this species, and in the exotic 

 E. procera. It would indeed appear that the peristome is 

 little to be depended upon as a generic character for Enca- 

 lypta^ and perhaps Bruch and Schimper have good reason 

 to place Gymnostomum viridissimum in company witli Zygodon 

 conoides. 



14. ^e\ss\B.tenuirostris. — This Moss was discovered by Dr 

 Taylor many years ago at Campsie, near Glasgow ; but from 

 the great rarity of fructification, and probably from some 

 local causes affecting the development of the peristome, its 

 true structure appears to have been long misunderstood, and 

 the figure given in Muscologia Britannica is incorrect. Having 

 in October last found the Moss in some plenty, and in a 

 state of great luxuriance and perfection in the neighbour- 

 hood of Dolgelley, N. Wales, I am induced to offer the fol- 

 lowing remarks, which will not be thought unimportant, 

 when the close resemblance of this plant to Tortula tortuosa 

 >s considered. 



Vol. Ill,— No. 23. 3 c 



