108 



MOSSES. 



Neckera, growing on trees, but we have not found 

 cither. 



The following spring, when searching those lovely 

 Swaledale woods, we found a creeping moss, with large 

 pale green glossy leaves, and stems rooting every few 



lines, and so tender that it resem- 

 bled a liverwort rather than a 

 moss. In due time the branches 

 grew to an inch or two in length, 

 and fruit-stalks rose bearing 

 thick urns, with mitre-shaped 

 veils (Hookeria luceus, Plate 

 VIII., fig. 9). The deep green 

 4. fontinalis. Hookena is generally touna m 

 drooping caves in warm climates, as Ireland and Corn- 

 wall. 



1. AXOMODON. 

 3. HYPNUM. 



" Drip, drip, drip, 



In that cool and shady cave, 

 From the basin in which the moss and fern 



Their crumpled edges lave. 

 Roofed by the living rock 



That arches overhead, 

 Ever by night, and ever by day, 



Trickles that crystal thread. 

 Ever in Summer's heat, 



Ever in Winter's cold, 

 Ever in Spring's young verdure, 



Ever in Autumn's gold — 

 Welling up from its secret urn, 

 Purling its wreath of moss and fern, 

 Pure and cool to the thirsty lip, — 

 Ages have echoed that ceaseless drip." 



