MOSSES. Ill 



and glossy, as if newly washed ; the erect stems were 

 simply branched, the branches curved slightly, and the 

 roundish, closely overlapping leaves so arranged as to 

 make the branches round, while the turned back points 

 of the leaves gave them a bristly appearance ; the urns 

 were oval, and placed at right angles with the foot-stalk. 

 There was such a puritanical appearance of propriety 

 about the whole plant, or rather congregation of plants, 

 that I rejoiced to know its name to be the Neat Feather 

 moss (H. -purum, Plate VII., Jig. 9). Although it is a 

 very common moss, it is rarely found in fruit, so that we 

 justly regarded it as a treasure. 



From early childhood I have loved one moss in par- 

 ticular, and I believe that my taste in this respect is shared 

 by very many, both of old and young. I loved the 

 Tamarisk Feather moss (H. tamariscinum, Plate VIII, Jig. 

 3), while yet wholly ignorant of the nature of any plant ; 

 when I could not better describe my preference than by 

 saying, "There is one moss I like, and one I don't like."' 

 The varying colour of its foliage, shading from yellow 

 to myrtle green : the rich luxuriance of its branches, laid 

 one over another like the feathers on the breast of a 

 bird ; the delicate arrangement of its myriad of tiny 

 leaves, won my love then, and keep it still, when 

 hundreds of moss beauties might divide my allegiance. 



I fancy that this moss, or some member of its family 

 closely resembling it, is the one of which Gerarde speaks 

 as the "Mosse feme." He says: " There is likewise found 

 in the shadowie places of high mountains, and at the 

 foote of old and rotten trees, a certain kind of mosse, in 

 face and show not unlike to that kind of oke (oak) feme, 



