MOSSES. 77 



The Oval-fruited Fringe Moss is peculiar to the hills of 

 Scotland, Wales and Ireland. 



The Dark Mountain Fringe Moss grows on wet rocks 

 by rivulets in similar situations ; it has long stems, slightly 

 clustered, and blunt leaves of a dull dark green. I found 

 it near Callander, (R aciculare, Plate V.,Jig. 18.) 



The Slender mountain Fringe moss (R. sudeticum, 

 Plate V., Jig. 17.) was growing freely on rocks near Oban, 

 its spreading leaves armed with hairy points giving it a 

 grey appearance. It bore abundant fruit on short stalks, 

 and had a venerable effect. 



The Green mountain Fringe Moss (E. fasciculare) I found 

 on damp rocks when making our memorable excursion 

 among the Pentland Hills. The brighter hue, much forked 

 branches, and absence of hairy points to the leaves dis- 

 tinguish the species. 



The Hoary Fringe Moss is frequent in those Highland 

 districts, spreading amongst heaps of stones and rubbish. 

 Here the hairy points are very abundant, (E. canescens, 

 Plate V., Jig. 16), and the footstalk is longer. 



The Woolly species (E. lanuginosum,) with its long 

 slender brittle branches, and woolly pointed leaves, 

 greeted us continually in our Swaledale rambles, forming 

 thick mats large enough for the hall door, upon the loose 

 walls on the hill sides. In some cases the stems were a 

 foot long, with many branches, the foliage was a dull 

 green, hoary with hairy points. The urns were of an 

 oblong shape, and the fruit-stalks were short and 

 rough. 



These Fringe Mosses are a very handsome group, and 



