Beckett. — On Neiv Species of Musci. 289 



in its reproduction it is connected with the Laminar iacecs. 

 The sum of its characters, however, is such as to expressly 

 exclude it from any existing natural order. They therefore 

 propose to establish the order Splachnidiacece for its reception. 



It must be very satisfactory to the authors of this excellent 

 paper to find that the conclusion they have arrived at by 

 theoretical considerations as to the reproduction of this plant 

 is shown by observation to be justifiable and accurate. My 

 own investigations, as far as they go, are quite in accord with 

 theirs as to the minute structure of the thallus. Unfor- 

 tunately, however, I have not been able as yet to examine the 

 apical cell. 



It may be worth mentioning that I have invariably found 

 a particular diatom in the mucilage of this plant. It is spindle- 

 shaped, and has a long elastic acicular process at each end. 

 These processes are sometimes straight, sometimes curved or 

 even hooked, and slightly clubbed. This diatom has been 

 found in Splaclinidium obtained near Wellington, and also in 

 plants taken from Lyttelton Harbour. It may occasionally 

 be found in the scrapings taken from the surface of the 

 thallus. Those so obtained are more highly coloured with a 

 characteristic brown pigment than those found in the interior, 

 and appear (in some cases, at any rate) to escape through the 

 ostiole. They may often be seen in slow motion, and are 

 certainly worthy of further investigation. 



Art. XXXVI. — Description of New Species of Musci. 

 By T. W. Naylor Beckett, F.L.S. 



[Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 5th October, 1892.] 



Plates XXXIV.-XLIV. 



Early in the present year I sent a small collection of New 

 Zealand mosses to Dr. Karl Miiller, of Halle. He has very 

 kindly examined them for me, and in a letter I lately received 

 from him, giving me the results of his examination, he tells 

 me that, of the seventy species sent, forty-eight are new. 

 Some of these, I think, will prove to be but varieties of species 

 already described. As Dr. Miiller is unable to devote the time 

 necessary to work out the new species, he has suggested that 

 I should describe them, and publish them in the Transac- 

 tions of the New Zealand Institute. He writes, " Should 

 you make known in New Zealand the results of your collect- 

 ing, and the mosses named by me, and should you feel disposed 

 19 



