204 THE MICROSCOPICAL NEWS, 
M. affine, M. cuspidatum, M. rostratum, M. riparium, M. 
spinosum, M. orthorhynchum, M. serratum, M. hornum, M. undu- 
latum. 
b. without a cartilaginous border, JZ. stellare. 
B. Leaves nearly entire, not bordered. 
M. cinclidoides. 
C. Leaves entire, with a cartilaginous border. 
M. punctatum, M. subglobosum. 
M. affine, the many fruited Thyme Thread Moss, frequents 
shady woods, banks, &c., but the fruit which ripens in June is rare. 
Stems one to three inches long; upper leaves very large, crowded, 
oval or oblong; the nerve ceasing below the apex; capsules ovate- 
oblong pendulous ; lid convex, pointed : dioicous. 
M. rostratum, the long beaked Thyme Thread Moss, is common 
on moist shady rocks and fruits in April. Stems 4%—1 in., decum- 
bent at base ; lower leaves ovate ; upper oval-oblong, obtuse, in a 
terminal spreading tuft, all simply and bluntly serrate ; undulate, 
nerve slightly excurrent into a mucro ; capsules oval, inclined or 
pendulous ; lid with a long curved beak : syndicous. 
M. riparium and M. spinosum, are two very rare species, and 
M. cinclidoides, the largeleaved Thyme Thread Moss, is only 
recorded from wet and boggy places on the mountains of Scotland. 
M. serratum, the serrated Thyme Thread Moss, fruits in May 
and June on moist rocks and shady banks, especially in limestone 
districts. It is one of the smallest of the genus, having stems about 
¥Y in. long; the beaked lid and synoicous inflorescence, distinguishing 
it from the more common JZ. hornum. The leaves vary from ovate 
to lanceolate ; upper ones pale green, lower ones of a vinous red 
tint, especially on the nerve and cartilaginous border; capsule 
more or less cernuous ; oval, reddish at the mouth. 
Paludella squarrosa, the drooping-leaved Thread Moss, and 
Mielichferia nitida, are very rare, and do not fruit in Britain. 
The lurid Cupola Moss, Cinclidium stygium, fruits in June and 
July on spongy bogs. It is rare in Britain, and frequently over- 
looked from its resemblance to M. punctatum, but the stems are 
more compactly tufted and matted together with purplish radicles. 
The inflorescense is synoicous, and from its deep red colour 
forms a most beautiful object under the microscope. 
A rare Moss found on the sandhills at Southport and on boggy 
and marshy places, chiefly in the Highlands, is Mees¢a uliginosa, the 
dwarf meesia ; while the stem is only 4%—1 in. long ; the fruitstalk 
is two inches in length with a capsule more or less oblong pyriform ; 
leaves lanceolate, obtuse, entire ; nerve thick, ceasing below the 
apex. Fruits July and August. Also at Southport and in similar 
situations in Scotland, is Amblyodon dealbatus, the lesser pale 
Thread Moss. 
