THE PAGE OF NATURE. 43 



nearly as large as Scotland, is principally covered with 

 mosses, these plants forming more than a fourth part 

 of its whole flora; while the black lifeless soil of New 

 South Shetland, one of the most southern points in the 

 Antarctic regions, is covered with faint specks of mosses 

 struggling for existence. In the extreme north and the 

 extreme south, they thus form the principal vegetation 

 of large portions of the earth's surface. 



Mosses are seldom associated with historical or per- 

 sonal incidents. There are two species, however, which 

 derive an additional interest from this connexion. It 

 has been ascertained that the hyssop^ which formed 

 the lowest limit in the descending scale of Solomon's 

 botanical knowledge, and which was frequently employed 

 in the temple service of the Jews for purposes of purifi- 

 cation by water or blood, is identical with the little 

 beardless moss (Gymnostomum truncatulum), which is 

 abundant on banks, walls, and fallow fields in this 

 country. It has been found in little scattered tufts on 

 the walls of Jerusalem, the kind of situation indicated 

 in Scripture as its natural growing place. It is little 

 more than half-an-inch in height, but it is very much 

 branched, and forms sometimes large continuous patches, 

 which could easily be employed as sponges. The speci- 

 mens found in the East are considerably larger than 

 those which occur in this country ; so that there is every 

 probability that the reference of Hasselquist, who called 

 it Hyssopus Solomonis, is correct. The moss which so 

 deeply interested the feelings of Mungo Park in the 

 African desert, as to revive his drooping spirits when 

 overcome with fatigue, has been found, by means of 



