820 MOSS HABITATS. 



bordered by a double row of teeth ; fruit-stalk terminal and arched at 

 the top like a swan's neck ; capsule oblong, slightly di'ooping ; lid convex, 

 with a small point ; in both these mosses the fringe is double, and forms 

 a beautiful object for the microscope. Fruiting in May or June. 



Polytrichum formosum rejoices in open woods, and forms extensive 

 loose tufts. The stems are often five or six inches high, and are ter- 

 minated by long fawn-coloured fruit-stalks. The capsules are large, four 

 or five angled, and slightly swollen at the base, this swollen portion being 

 called the apophysis, [Plate IV., Fig. 14 c] The mouth of the capsule ia 

 closed by a reticulated diaphragm, (Fig. 21 c,) and fringed by sixty-four 

 short, pale teeth. The lid is long and rostrate, (Fig. 13 a,) and the 

 calyptra is clothed with numerous down-Uke hairs. 



Hypnum triquetmm is frequent in many woods and on shady banks ; 

 grows in tall, rigid, shining tufts, several inches long, yellowish-green. 

 The stems are red, and more or less branched. The stem leaves much 

 recurved, clasping the stem at the base, thence gradually tapering to 

 an acute point, minutely toothed on the margin, and striated or streaked 

 on the surface ; and with a lens two parallel veins will be seen, reaching 

 more than half way up the leaf. The fruit-stalk proceeds from the 

 side of the stem, bearing a short slightly curved capsule, with a conical 

 lid. The fringe is double (Fig. 20, a, b.) 



Hypnum tama rise inum is fond of like places, and occurs in loose, deep 

 green tufts. This is one of the most beautiful of the feather mosses. The 

 stem is tiipinnate, and more or less clothed with numerous branched 

 thread-like bodies (viUi.) The leaves are heart-shaped, toothed on the 

 margin, and covered on both surfaces with minute projections (papillae.) 

 Tliis moss is often proliferous, i.e., produces young plants from various 

 partp of its surface. Hence the old uume 11. prolij'enan. The fruit ia 

 lateral and very rarely seen. 



Dicranum scoparium is a beautiful moss occurring on marly banks and 

 in woods, growing in yellowish tufts. The leaves are turned to one side and 

 curved like a falchion, narrow lance-shaped, and sharply toothed. The 

 nerve is well marked, and has several projecting ridges on the back. The 

 fruit-stalk is terminal, the capsule curved, hd long and rostrate, (13a,) and 

 the fringe consists of sixteen deep-red cloven teeth, beautifully marked 

 with transverse bars. Fruiting in July. 



[to be continued.] 



FKESHWATER LIFE.— III. INFUSORIA. 



BY EDWIN SMITH, M.A. 



(Continued from page 292.) 



Interesting as the sedentai-y Infusoria prove, the more closely they 

 are studied, those kinds which swim about freely are even more striking 

 on account of their varied and ceaseless movements. Let us next 

 consider a few examples of this latter division. 



Trachelius ovum, which I have taken from a lodgment of water in a 

 meadow on New Yoai-'s Day, is from l-50th to l-80th of an inch long, or 



