280 MOSS HOUSES. [CHAP. X. 



green in B. cuspidatum. The red alpine thread 

 moss (B. alpinum) is sometimes almost black 

 in moist situations ; and, where it can be pro- 

 cured, it may be introduced with very striking 

 effect. Most of the kinds of feather moss are 

 loose, and require to be pushed in farther than 

 the thread mosses ; they are generally green, 

 but the red mountain feather moss (Hypnum. 

 rufescens), which is found principally in the 

 Highlands, is of a reddish brown, and Hypnum 

 lutescens and H. nitens are yellowish, the latter 

 having a brownish tinge. H. proliferum is of a 

 beautiful pea-green, and a tuft of it looks like a 

 plume of feathers ; it is generally found on the 

 trunks of trees, and it is a very common species. 

 The wolf's-claw moss (H. rugosum) is of a very 

 beautiful reddish brown, but it is only found in 

 bogs in the North of England and Scotland, 

 and, consequently, cannot always be procured. 

 Many other kinds of moss might be mentioned, 

 but what I have said will be sufficient to direct 

 the attention of my readers to the subject ; and 

 any of them who may reside near a wood or 

 common will find it an amusement to gather 

 mosses and lichens of different colours, and to 

 drv them for use. The most common kinds 

 on the heaths and commons near London are 

 generally of a pale or dingy hue ; but farther 

 north more brilliant colours are found, some 

 of a very dark brown, some of a rich 

 brownish purple, some of a very bluish green, 

 and some so white as to look like snow: and, 

 when the prevailing mosses and lichens of 

 the district have been discovered, the pat- 

 tern and colours for the moss house can be 



