1906-1907.] Hints on the Study of Hepatics. 349 



foliose hepatics, though one of our commonest species, 

 Diplophyllum albicans, has a line of cells on the centre of 

 the leaf, but this is very different in appearance from the 

 midrib of a moss, and it does not extend to the apex of the 

 leaf as in Fissidens. 



All the foliose hepatics have a single capsule at the end of 

 a delicate white pedicel. The capsule divides on maturity 

 into four valves, elaters are mixed with the spores, and the 

 calyptra remains at the base of the pedicel. Mosses have a 

 firm stalk for the capsule, the capsule usually opens with a 

 lid, there are no elaters mixed with the spores, and the calyp- 

 tra is carried up with the capsule, remaining on it as a 

 hood. External to the calyptra in most hepatics is a more or 

 less tubular organ named the perianth. 



The leaves of hepatics are entire, toothed, two to five lobed 

 or variously divided. Besides the row of leaves on the sides of 

 the stem, many species have a third row on the posterior side. 

 This row is usually composed of smaller leaves and of a differ- 

 ent shape from the others. They are named under-leaves, or 

 sometimes stipules. 



In searching for hepatics the beginner must remember that 

 their chief requisite is moisture, except in the case of a very 

 few species. They are to be found in almost any moist ground, 

 but are most plentiful in ravines where there are wet rocks 

 combined with shade. Peat-mosses have also many species. 

 In the drier parts of the country they are comparatively 

 scarce, but where the rainfall is larger, as in hilly districts 

 and towards the west side of the country, they are numerous. 



The equipment necessary for collecting is very simple. A 

 knife, paper bags, a fairly large waterproof bag, and a pocket 

 lens of about an inch focal length, are all that is required. 

 Some old envelopes for minute species which have to be 

 scraped off rocks are also useful. It is important that the 

 pocket lens should have a large field, so that the beginner 

 may learn to recognise the various species to a large extent 

 in his excursions. A more powerful lens may also be carried 

 with advantage, but the weaker lens should always be used in 

 the first place. On reaching home, the bags containing the 

 specimens should be labelled with locality and date, by insert- 

 ing slips of paper, and then laid out to dry for future examin- 



