IKTKOiJl^CTION. 



teeth being to distribute the spores, an operation which may sometimes 

 be seek under the microscope. To the other organ the name of 

 archegonia has been applied : it is filled with the spermatozoids, which 

 are amongst the most wonderful and interesting productions in the 

 vegetable kingdom. One of these burst when under the microscope, 

 the whole band, as if suddenly relieved, came twirling along with 

 great rapidity, forming all manner of groups ; after a time some 

 of these burst the thin case that encloses each separate spermatozoid, 

 and then came a number of snake-like ci'eatures, with a round protu- 

 berance in or near the centre, curling and gyrating most curiously, and 

 this was continued for several hours. They were observed under one 

 of Pillischer's compound microscopes, with the quarter object-glass and 

 the lowest eyepiece. 



In the Hyjmum, tlie inflorescence is enclosed in the perigonial 

 leaves, situated on the sides of the stems and sometimes on the branches, 

 like small dark buds or clusters of leaves, not difficult to recognise, 

 generally nestling among the leaves. In the genus Orthotrichum the 

 antherideas are jointed; and in one species, O.pliiiUantJium, found only 

 in a bixrren state, they are situated on the apex of the leaf. 



II. DISTRIBUTION. 



The basins formed in the sandhills on both sides of the Mersey are 

 peculiarly favourable to the growth of Mosses. They appear almost 

 naturally formed for the receptiou of the floating spores of this minute 

 class of plants. In winter these basins are partially filled with water, 

 which evaporates in the summer, and the decaying leaves of the Salix 

 fusca and the Rosa spinosissima, &c., together with the entangled and 

 closely matted growth of some of the species of Moss, form what 

 might be termed peat bogs in miniature. 



The plants found from Crosby to Southport, on the river side of the 

 railway, are the following : — Mnium stellare, cuspidatum, seri'atum ; 

 Meesia uliginosa: Amblyodon dealbatus; Tortula ruralis, subulata, and 

 uuguiculata ; Climacium dendroides; Bryum serratum, inclinatum; 

 Hypnum elodes, lycopodioides, revolvens, moUuscum, polygamum or 

 nodiflorum, confertum var. megapolitanum, stellatum, Kneiffii flui- 

 tans, cuspidatum, cupressiforme var. nigro-viride, cordifolium, albicans, 

 lutescens, filicinum, and serpens. Many species occur on walls and 

 exposed rocky situations, while others attach themselves to the bark on 

 the trunks of trees ; some are found on moist clay banks, and a few in- 

 habit heathy and marshy places ; one plant grows where it is exposed 

 4 



