MOSSES. 45 



incumbent in us to show wherein they differ from 

 mosses generally. It is sufficient to say that the 

 only apology for special allusion to them is on 

 account of their share in the composition of those 

 peat beds from which their name is derived. Pro- 

 fessor Schimper has expressed all this in a few lines. 

 He says, " Unless there were peat mosses, many a 

 bare mountain ridge, many a high valley of the 

 temperate zone, and large tracts of the northern 

 plains, would present a uniform watery flat, instead 

 of a covering of flowering plants or shady woods. 

 For just as the SpJiagjia suck up the atmospheric 

 moisture, and convey it to the earth,' do they also 

 contribute to it by pumping up to the surface of the 

 tufts formed by them the standing water, which was 

 their cradle, diminish it by promoting evaporation, 

 and finally also, by their own detritus, and by that 

 of the numerous other bog-plants to which they serve 

 as a support, remove it entirely, and thus bring about 

 their own destruction. Then, as soon as the plant 

 detritus formed in this manner has elevated itself 

 above the surface water, it is familiar to us by the 

 name of peat, becomes material for fuel, and all 

 Sphagnum vegetation ceases." 



MuNGO Park's Moss. 



Mosses have not, as a rule, played any considerable 

 part in the romance of the lower forms of vegetable 

 life, but the incident, so often quoted, in connection 

 with the traveller, Mungo Park, cannot be omitted. 

 This enterprising traveller, during one of his journeys 

 into the interior of Africa, was cruelly stripped and 



