19G ON THE STUDY OF TUT. MOSSES. 



but experience will soon show that these characters vary in different 

 species of Moss. The mai-gin of the leaf, (6/),) is sometimes plane, at 

 others formed of a double row of cells and hence thickened, as in Tortula 

 viarginata ; in some cases entire, in others variously toothed. In some 

 species, Weiiisia controt'ersa, for instance, it is involute, (rolled over towards 

 the upper surface ; ) in others revolute, (rolled over towards the lower surface,) 

 as in 'Tortula revoluta, to be found on wall tops ; or the leaf may be rolled 

 upon itself from side to side, or convolute, as in the leaves surrounding 

 the base of the fruit-stalk of Tortula coiivoluta, and in some case as in 

 Atrichnm undalafum, the margin is undulated. The leaf-si;rface is usually 

 smooth, but in some species, such as Thuidlum tamariscinum, it is covered 

 with minute projections, and is termed papillose. The leaves vary in 

 colour, being of every shade of green, in some cases reddish, in others 

 brown, or again, as in Leucobryum glaucum, nearly white. 



Mosses are often termed flowerless plants, which is a misnomer, 

 as both male and female flowers occur on these plants, and may 

 readily be found in most species when the leafy stem has arrived at 

 mati;rity. In many of our Mosses, as in the Bryums and Polytric]tiims, 

 they occur as star-like bodies at the top oi the stem ; in others, such as 

 the comnaon Ilypiiiim rutahulum, both male and female flowers maj' be 

 found as bud-like bodies in the axils of the stem-leaves. In the 

 bog-mosses or S2)hafj)iums they occur in pendulous catkins, which are 

 often tinged with red or brown. 



If these flowers are dissected it will be seen that they consist of a 

 number of leaves surrounding or enveloping the organs of reproduction, 

 the Antheridia, fftorf/es which perform the function of an anther, 7a,) i.e., 

 the male ; or the Archegonia, (bodies which perform the function of a 2}istil 

 or ovary, 9,) i.e., the female reproductive bodies. The leaves surrounding 

 the antheridia form what is termed the perigonium, (tliat whicJt. surround.^ 

 the male oryan;) those surrounding the archegonia form the perigynium, 

 (that which surrounds the female organ.) The male flowers are sometimes 

 developed in the axils of the ordinary leaves, and have no perigonium, as 

 in Sphagnum. 



[to be continued.] 



METEOROLOGY OF THE MIDLANDS. 



THE WEATHER OF MAY, 1878. 



BY. W. J. HAERISON, F.G.S. 



Tlic first few days of May were tolerably fine and clear, hut on tlie 

 7th rain began to fall, and continued daily until the '21tth, thus giving 

 twenty-throe consecutive dsiys of i-ain ! As one observer succinctly puts 

 it, tliis downpour ".spoilt the promise of April; damaged the crops, and 

 put evei'ybody out of temper." 



Ehratum.— In romnrks for April, read Swallow for Cuckoo at Kibworth on 

 April 11th. Cuckoo did uot api>ear there till May 2ud ; very late. 



