THE PAGE OF NATURE. 



29 



the formation of microscopic cells, are also found in these 

 organs, the teeth being arranged in each row in the geo- 

 metrical progression of 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64~ there never 

 being by any chance an odd number ; thus illustrating 

 the general doctrine that a system of types runs through- 

 out the whole works of nature, furnishing evidences of 

 supreme intelligence, and wonderfully adapted not only 

 to the objects to which it is applied, but also to the same 

 or similar principles in the constitution of man's mind. 



FIG. 1. BBYCM SERPENS. 

 (a) Veil. (6) Fringe, (c) Leaf, (d) Capsule with lid. (e) Stem. 



These teeth are highly sensitive to the changes of the 

 weather, opening in sunshine, and closing during moist 

 or rainy weather, for the obvious purpose of ripening 

 the minute dust-like seeds with which the interior of 

 the capsule is filled; and it is a remarkable circum- 

 stance that, in one or two genera of mosses which are 

 not provided with hygrometric teeth, the lid that closes 

 the capsule is permanent, being thrown off only when 

 the seeds are ripe and ready to be dispersed. By plac- 



