[December, I860.] 353 



OETHOTRICHUM ANOMALUM. 



Notes and Observations on the Orthotrichura anomalum of 



British and Foreign Authors. 



By J. B. Wood, M.D., F.R.C.S., etc. 



" Onmium fere Muscorum generum naturalissimum, nunquam dirimendum. 

 Pulclirius vix iillum geuiis ; difficiliora non onulta." — Weber et Mohr. 



(To the Editor of the Fhytologist) 



The subject of the following paper having latterly occupied 

 much of my time and attention, it occurred to me that it might 

 possibly have some interest for the Bryological readers of your 

 useful periodical. I could have much wished that my valued 

 and deeply esteemed friend Mr. Wilson, would have undertaken 

 the discussion of this very abstruse and complicated question 

 rather than myself, as from his great research, extensive learn- 

 ing, and vast experience iu all matters connected with Bryology, 

 he was much better fitted for the task than one who, with such 

 small pretensions as myself, could possibly be. The very nu- 

 merous and pressing engagements with which he is constantly 

 occupied, and the delicate state of his health, are, I know, 

 almost insuperable barriers to the attempt. I shall, however, 

 gladly avail myself of the valuable remarks made by him in 

 connection with this subject, aud I have no doubt that they 

 will be fully appreciated as they deserve, and have their due 

 weight and influence with your readers. 



The object I have in view is, if possible, to elicit further and 

 more extended information upon what appears to me a very in- 

 teresting subject. 



Probably it may be a matter of surprise to some, that so 

 much can be found to be said concerning a Moss, hitherto re- 

 garded so common, and apparently so well recognized and un- 

 derstood. The issue will, I hope, prove satisfactorily that there 

 is in reality much interest in relation to it, and something yet 

 to learn, more than most suspect, before we shall be in a po- 

 sition to be perfectly certain as to what is actually meant and 

 intended by those authors who have hitherto written respecting 

 it. Possibly the way in which I have attempted (very ineffi- 

 ciently, I fear), to bring this question under review, may be 

 esteemed by some as verging upon rashness and indiscretion ; 

 and justly so, for I am too sensibly aware of my own inability 



N. S. VOL. IV. 2 z 



