10 



trees, old walls, &c., &c. Some mosses only grow in particular soil ; for 

 instance, we find the minute Seligerea Calcarea on chalk cliffs ; on sandy 

 soil is found the silver thread moss [Bryum argenteum) ; on dry peaty 

 soil, the common hair moss (Polytrichum commune) ; on stumps of trees, 

 the swan-necked thread moss {Mnium hornum) ; on old walls, the screw 

 mosses {BarbultB). Amongst grass are found various species of feather 

 mosses {Hypim). The particular localities I have investigated are the 

 following :— the Woolwich Road, Bostol Heath and Wood, Stapley's 

 Wood, Wyman's Wood, and Abbey Wood. Mosses are more frequent 

 in damp situations and most luxuriant in the early months of the year, 

 when they are generally in fruit. Our largest species of mosses in the 

 locality are the Hypnum alopecurum, the Polytrichum commune, and 

 Mnium hornum. The smallest is the Seligerea calcarea, and others 

 easily overlooked. I may here remark, that through the drainage and 

 removal of part of the furze on Bostol Heath, many of the mosses 

 will disappear ; for instance, two years ago in the principal dale the 

 bog mosses were plentiful — they are now rapidly diminishing in quantity. 



Appended is a list of the mosses I have found in the above-mentioned 

 places, under their particular families, with their habitat and times of 

 fructification. Wilson's plan, given in his " Bryologia Brittanica," has 

 been adopted as far as practicable. 



SPHAGNE^ (peat or bog moss family). Always known by the spiral 

 fibre in each cell of the leaves. 



Sphagnum cymbifolium, Ehrh. {blunt-leaved peat moss). Hab. Bostol 

 Dale ; plentiful, not found in fruit. 



Sphagnum compactum {compact bog moss). Hab. same as S. cymbi- 

 folium ; not in fruit. 



GEORGIE/E.— Georgia pellucida, the gemmiform plant. Hab. 

 common on damp banks and stumps of trees ; not in fruit. 



POLYTRICHEi^ {hair moss family), so called from the hairy calyptra 

 or hood. 



Polytrichum commune, L. {common hair moss). Hab. Bostol Heath ; 

 plentiful, the female plant less frequent ; in fruit during June. 



Atrichum UNDULATUM, L. {wavy-leaved hair moss). Hab. dry banks 

 in Stapley's Wood ; less frequent than the former species ; in fruit during 

 November. 



POGONATUiNt ALOIDES, Hedw. Hab. Stapley's Wood, not common ; 

 in fruit during December. 



LEUCOBRYEiE (whitC'leaved fork moss family). 



