MOSSES. 113 



Feather moss (H. undulatum, Plate V11I., fig. 6), as the 

 form of the leaves, or the stripes on the urn. 



There are a vast number of species in this over-grown 

 family, nearly a hundred of them, I believe ; but Silk- 

 wood did not offer any more of them, and we had nor 

 time to search further. 



Eeturning by Haverdale wood, we followed the 

 course of the pretty stream for some little distance. The 

 water is there drawn off into a mill race, and in this we 

 noticed moss branches waving in the current. We got 

 a handful, and were charmed to recognise the Long- 

 beaked water Feather moss (E. ruscifolium, Plate VIII. , 

 fig. 8). It seemed to be the very scene described by 

 Gardner in his poem on that plant. 



" There you may look beneath the waters 



Sweetly gliding, or serene, 

 For one of beauty's lovely daughters, 



Lovely, though of humble mein : 

 And where the stream in childish glee 



Leaps o'er the rocks in infant pride 

 This little moss, in eddying swirl 



Of foamy waves, its head doth hide." 



The mill race was only interesting as the home of the 

 moss, and we turned from it to the brook-side, which 

 presently became wild and beautiful in the extreme. 

 The waters were now descending towards the broad 

 valley by many an abrupt stony step ; then suddenly 

 they fall into a circus formed of huge limestone rocks, 

 making " eddying swirls *' and " fancy waves " in abund- 

 ance, and nourishing curtains of rich verdure on either 

 hand. Here was the same moss again, and with urns 



H 



