CRYPTOGAMIA MUSCI. -.e^ 



The pednncles are reddifh, about half an inch 

 high, and arile near the bale of the fecondary 

 branches. The caplules are cyh-ndrically oval, 

 ered:, of a yellowilli brown colour wJicn ripe. 

 The operculum is acutely conical ; the rim ci- 

 liated ; the capfules are rarely found. 



Ohf. Mosses, by the inconfiderate mind, are ge- 

 nerally deem'd an ufelefs or infianincant part of 

 the creation. That they are ndt^is evident only 

 from hence ; that He who made them has made 

 nothing in vain, bur, on the contrary, has pro- 

 nounced all his works to be "jery good. Many 

 of their ufes we know ; that they have many 

 more which we know nor, is unqueftionable, 

 fince there is probably no one thing in the uni- 

 \^x{<t of which we can dare to aiiert tha: \vc 

 know all their ufes. Thus much we are cer- 

 tain of with refpecl to moires ; that as they 

 flouriHi moft in Winter, and ac that time cover 

 the ground with a beautiful green carper, in 

 many places which would be otherwife naked, 

 and when little verdure is elfcwhere to be ken, 

 fo at the fame time they fiielier and prefcrve the 

 feeds, roots, gems, and embryo plants of many 

 vegetables, v.'hich would otherwife periili \ they 

 furnifh materials for birds to build thtir ncils 

 with ; they afford a warm Winter's retreat for 

 fome quadrupeds, fuch as bears, dormice, and 

 the like, and for numberlefs infects, which are 

 the food of birds and firncs, and thefe agnin 



tliC 



