THE WOOD. 79 



by the lightest breath of air, to escape at a time 

 when they are likely to meet with nothing which 

 can impede their aerial journey. Frequently, 

 when examining a ripe seed-vessel under the mi- 

 croscope, I have observed the fringe of teeth arise 

 and fall, so as to keep exact time with my breath- 

 ing. This Jiygrometric property (or power of in- 

 dicating the presence or absence of moisture) 

 sometimes exists in the stalk which supports the 

 seed-vessel. A remarkable example of this occurs 

 in a Moss which is perhaps one of the most gene- 

 rally diffused plants in the world, growing in 

 almost all climates and situations.* In moist 

 weather its seta (the name given to the stalk of the 

 seed-vessel) is straight ; but, when the air is dry, 

 it curls up to such a degree, that its extremity 

 touches the ground, and the seed-vessel buries 

 itself among the leaves. It is found most abun- 

 dantly on the tops of walls, in fields where ashes 

 have been thrown, or in green-houses, or the earth 

 contained in garden-pots. It is called Funaria 

 hygrometrica; the former name being derived from 

 a Latin word signifying a rope, from the twisted 

 form which it sometimes assumes ; the latter from 

 its hygrometric properties. 



I shall probably have something more to say 

 about Mosses on another occasion ; we will not 

 stop, therefore, to examine them any further at 



E resent, but will hasten into the open country, 

 3r the sun is now shining out with such fervour 

 that we shall soon be able to ramble over the ad- 

 joining heath without wetting our feet. But, 

 before we say adieu to our shelter, I must point 



* Funaria hygrometrica. 



