The Polylrichaccfc of Essex County. 117 



the noise proceeded. Something of the same kind has 

 been noticed also in Framingham, in this State, by a stu- 

 dent of medicine, who relates that he and a friend of his 

 were kept awake on the identical night, June 16th, 1842, 

 by the noise of frogs or something of the kind in a ditch of 

 water near his lodging ; that they went out to discover what 

 they were, but on drawing near the place, the noise or cry, 

 which resembled that of young crows, suddenly ceased, and 

 nothing was to be seen. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE POLYTRICHACE^E ; with a notice of some species occurring in 

 Essex County, Massachusetts. 



This family of the mosses, embraces several distinct 

 genera, which formerly were all comprised under one genus, 

 and known as Polytrichum. Growing in situations sub- 

 jected to alternate dryness and moisture, the polytrichnms 

 are found inhabiting wide-apart regions of the globe. 

 Assuming a gregarious habit and in many instances corn- 

 posing a close turf of perennial continuance, they are well 

 adapted to clothe the surface of the earth, in high northern 

 latitudes. Particular species are decidedly montane and 

 even alpine, while again on the other hand several grow in 

 rocky situations, near the sea coast. 



The polytrichums are mosses of an upright form, bearing 

 on the summits of the stems and embosomed in the foliage, 

 two kinds of reproductive organs; the one consisting of a 

 series of stiff and colored bracts of a stellulate outline, 

 enclosing the antheridia and pistillidia, from the latter of 

 which, the future seed-vessel (capsule) is gradually pro- 

 duced. Sometimes however the stellulate appearance 

 remains, crowning the summit, and on the next annual 

 growth furnishing a continuation of the stem from its 

 midst, which is also provided with the regular foliages, and 

 the individual plant is thus for a time in a sterile condition. 

 The office, which the antheridium and pistillidium perform 

 2 



