11 
taken this year, among which were dwarf specimens of small 
white, varieties of common, clifden and chalk-hill blues, varieties 
of Agrotis Saucia, and specimens of Trigonophora Empyrea, &e., 
and mentioned that two specimens of the rare moth, Lewcania 
vitellina, had been taken near Brighton. He also mentioned that 
he had seen at Swaysland’s living specimens of Richard’s pipit 
and a young rosy bull-finch, taken on the Downs, besides a 
specimen of the little gull, shot near the head of the New Pier. 
November 12th.—On “ Mosses,” by Mr. C. P. Smiru. 
The first appearance of mosses is a green mass of threads 
called the prothallus, on which buds are formed, which de- 
velop into the perfect plant, The stem consists of cellular 
tissue, the cells being more or less elongated, some few 
exhibiting faint indications of spiral structure. In length the stem 
varies from a few inches to several feet, while, in Buxbaumia, it 
is so reduced as to appear, at first sight, absent. 
The two main divisions are recognizable by the methods 
of branching, viz., the Acrocarpi or terminal fruited, and 
the Plewrocarpi or lateral fruited. 
The leaves vary very much, and generally consist cf but one 
layer of cells ; exceptions, however, are seen in Leucobrywm and 
Sphagnum ; sometimes leaves are found consisting entirely of 
parenchymatous and prosenchymatous cells, but generally the 
basal cells are more lax than those at the tip. With one exception 
they are without Stipules. 
The margins of leaves vary, the most remarkable being the 
equitant, which partially sheath each other. 
Theamountof chlorophyll is also variable, some being saturated 
with green, others nearly white from its absence, while various 
shades of brown, olive, purple, and black are met with. 
The simplest form of reproduction is by gemme, which oceur 
on various parts of the plant ; but the true generation is by male 
and female flowers, first discovered by Hedwig 90 years ago—for 
a long time disbelieved, but now accepted as an established fact. 
In Acrocarpi the female flowers are at the apex, the male at 
