744 



from that of their full development, which only takes place under fa- 

 vorable circumstances, and yet these partially developed states have a 

 power of reproduction. I imagine then that the Vaucherias are the 

 rudimentary states of the mosses, and that the ovoid vesicles are ana- 

 logous to granules, and reproduce the primordial state of the moss, 

 which only developes perfect leaves and fruit under favorable circum- 

 stances. Again, I have never found Protonema muscicola, which is 

 common on old stumps, unaccompanied by a Jungermannia ; and I 

 have thought, from careful examination, that I could detect a connex- 

 ion of the filaments, of which this Alga consists, within the base of 

 the stem of the Jungermannia : if so, this Protonema will be the ana- 

 logue of Vaucheria among mosses. Protonema cryptarum is suspected 

 by Agardh to be the young state of a Phascum. There is a curious 

 species which grows on the stems of Orthotrichi, — P. Orthotrichi. I 

 suspect this to consist of aerial roots of the moss, which are some- 

 times much more produced than at others. I should like to have the 

 opinions of more experienced cryptogamic botanists than myself on 

 these points. Before I close this note I would wish to remark that 

 Thelephora cserulea, Schrad., among the Fuugi, and Mycinema phos- 

 phoreum,y4^., among the Algae, of Hooker's 'English Flora,' are the 

 same plant, and are both referred to Auricularia phosphorea. Sow. 

 Fung. III. t. 350. — Ph. B. Ayres ; Thame, September 7, 1843. 



371. Short Account of an Excursion to Tilgate Forest and the West 

 Hoathly Rocks. On Monday, August 21st, 1843, accompanied by 

 three botanical friends, I made an excursion to the rocks at West 

 Hoathly, and from thence to Tilgate Forest, starting from the Three 

 Bridges station on the Brighton railway : our attention was first 

 attracted to a large pool, by the side of the railway, and near the 

 station, and although so recently excavated, it furnished us with 

 many plants of interest ; among them were Centunculus minimus, 

 Erythrsea pulchella, Scirpus setaceus, Juncus lampocarpus, Typha 

 latifolia, Alisma Plantago, with several other aquatic plants : a short 

 distance up the lane towards Worth, and near the pool, we collected 

 Hypericum Androssemum, Blechnum boreale, Aspidium spinulosum, 

 Rubus Koehleri and R. macrophyllus. We then proceeded to Turner's 

 hill, distant about three miles : the lane through which we passed 

 was very sandy ; the common hedge-plants here were Erythrsea 

 Centaurea, Solidago Virgaurea, Aspidium Filix-mas, Calluna vulgaris, 

 Erica cinerea, &c. On the left hand bank, near Turner's Hill Gate, 

 some very fine specimens of Asplenium Trichomanes were collected. 

 The rocks, which are about one mile from this spot (direct south), 



