22 DAS MOOSBILD OF DR. ERNST HAMPE. 



In placing Polytrichacea? and Buxbaumiacea? under Mniacea}, the 

 author reverses the principle previously acted upon ; the free 

 lamina of the leaf in Polytrichum has indeed cells like those of 

 Mnium, but we do not find any resemblance in the structure of the 

 peristome. The tall dendroid habit of Polytrichum and the solid 

 structure of the stems entitle the family to a high place in the muscine 

 group ; and, as the author points out, Pogonatum cannot be main- 

 tained as a genus apart from Polytrichum, for the angular outline 

 of the capsule in some species of the latter genus is scarcely dis- 

 tinguishable. 



In the Cladocarpi the fruit is borne at the end of lateral branches, 

 without any specially formed pericytial leaves, and in Fontina- 

 liceasis included Cinclidotus. In Cryphaeacere is placed the genus 

 Hedwigia, and notwithstanding that Mr. Mitten refers it to Neck- 

 eraceae, we must own that we have a leaning to the view that it is 

 Grimmiaceous ; but we must remember that both authors have 

 based their opinions on the study of many exotic forms of the 

 group, and they are therefore entitled to the highest respect. 



The Pleurocarpi are characterised by lateral fruit, arising from a 

 distinctly lateral bud. The arrangement of the host of species be- 

 longing to this section has hitherto proved a difficult task to 

 almost every systematist, owing to the immense number of transi- 

 tional forms ; some, e. g. Prof. Schimper, have attempted to evade 

 it by forming a great number of genera, very good on paper, but 

 not so satisfactory in practise; others, like C. Mliller, mass the 

 whole together and break the genus up into sections ; perhaps a 

 middle course between the two will prove most advantageous. Dr. 

 Hampe apparently regards the whole as representing one great 

 family, divisible into tribes and grouped in three sections. 



1. Brachycarpi, having symmetric capsules, immersed or on a 

 short seta. The Neckeracese are the chief representatives of this 

 section. 



2. Orthocarpi, with symmetric capsules elevated on long seta?. 

 Leskea will stand as the type of this group, and to this genus the 

 author refers Pylaiea and Homed othecium as Sciuro-Leskea, Amlly- 

 stegium subtile and Sprvcei as Seiyo-Leshea and other sj)ecies to 

 Drcpano-Leskea, Cyrto- Leskea and Dendro-Leskea. 



3. Camptocarpi, fruit curved, elevated on a long seta. These 

 present the highest degree of development in the Hypnoid mosses, 

 for it appears to be the rule that in a curved or pendulous capsule 

 we find the greatest perfection of peristome. Dr. Hampe regards 

 Hookeria and Hypnum as two genera embracing all the species, 

 much as C. Muller does in his Synopsis ; but we have again in 

 Hypnum the singular play with the generic name seen in Leskea. 

 Hooheria is divided into seven groups — Euhookeria, Mniadelphns, 

 Cho?tophora, Pterygophyllum, Hypnella, Holoblepharum, and Cal- 

 licostella. 



