1085 



518. Yorksliire Locality for Lastraa Thelypteris. In July of the 

 present year, I found two imperfect fronds of Lastraea Thelypteris, 

 Presl, in a damp place in Wharncliflfe wood, a locality which Mr. 

 Newman has not named, either in his County List of Yorkshire ferns 

 (Phytol. 449), or in his late edition of the Ferns. I left the root, not 

 wishing to destroy the habitat, and could not discover more than two 

 fronds. A single plant of Neottia Nidus-avis grew near it. — Id. 



519. Reply to the Enquiry about Bartramia falcata, Hook., Linn. 

 Trans. &c. (Phytol. 1035), I have examined the original specimen, 

 and consider it to be as distinct from Bartramia calcarea, Br. Sf Sch.y 

 as that species is from B. fontana. B. uncinata {Schwcegr., Suppl. t. 

 57) may be a small variety of B, calcarea, but the locality (Guade- 

 loupe and Martinique) renders this inference somewhat hazardous. 

 B. calcarea grows on Hale Moss, near Altrinchara, Cheshire, with 

 both kinds of inflorescence, but without fruit : I have never seen it 

 elsewhere. On the subject of B. calcarea, I must beg leave to say, 

 that the unilateral direction of the leaves is not, in every species of 

 moss, perhaps not even in this, a character to be safely depended up- 

 on. The seta in Bartramia, as in all acrocarpous genera, is essen- 

 tially terminal. Andraea nivalis and A. Rothii are abuiadantly distinct 

 species, but 1 cannot say as much for Dicranum falcatum and D. 

 Starkii, wdiich, on the Clova mountains, present many intermediate 

 forms. The true calyptra of Polytrichum is the small scariose inte- 

 gument immediately in contact with the operculum. I have myself 

 met with similar instances to that described by Mr. Edraonston. The 

 apparent unity of the two calyptrae arises simply from mutual adhe- 

 sion of the hairlike fibres which cover the true calyptra, and are in- 

 serted near its apex. Such an appearance may be expected whenever 

 two perfect and contiguous archegonia are developed. I have a spe- 

 cimen of a Bryum, where two setae, in similar circumstances, have be- 

 come incorporated in their lower half, presenting the appearance of a 

 forked fruit-stalk. With regard to the validity of the species retained 

 or proposed as such by Bruch and Schimper, every one will form his 

 own judgment ; but I would suggest the propriety of studying the 

 subject with diligence and attention, before any condemnation be 

 passed upon their positions. This is the least mark of deference due 

 to authors, who have the merit of having abolished so many spurious 

 species, and of having reduced them to their proper rank of varieties. 

 Whatever praise they are entitled to as discriminators, they have ac- 

 quired it in consequence of having systematically applied those very 

 characters which Mr, E. terms trivial. Perhaps these may find more 



