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The long disputed question of sexuality in the Mosses is 

 still as unsettled as ever. Many reasons have been given by 

 botanists of high standing, both for and against such an hvpo- 

 thesis. But no observations of so much value appear as yet 

 to have been made, as to settle this point with any degree of 

 certainty. The so-called male organs are cylindrical membra- 

 nous bodies, opening by an irregular perforation at the apex, 

 and discharging a mucous granular fluid. Among them are 

 found slender, pellucid jointed threads, supposed to be abortive 

 antheridea?. In the antheridese of Hypnum and Iphagnum, 

 Unger and Mayer have found what they call spermatic animal- 

 cules. But, notwithstanding their actual motion, it is ex- 

 tremely doubtfid whether they are anything but loose spires 

 set in motion by some hygrometric action. 



If the sexes are anywhere to be found in Mosses, they must 

 be sought in the theca : and we find that various botanists, 

 from time to time, have been of this opinion; and all the 

 different parts of this organ have been named as performing 

 the functions of the anthers. Some have fixed on the colu- 

 mella ; others on the peristome ; and others on the operculum. 

 It is, however, unnecessary to enter upon any examination 

 into the truth of these various hypotheses, so little having 

 been brought forward in support of any of them. 



