44 BEITISH MOSSES. 



cells which surrounds the mouth of the capsule at the 

 base of the teeth : and the opposite ways in which these 

 cells act in the same condition of moisture in different 

 genera is a remarkable circumstance. 



To anyone who studies the subject, the immense variety 

 as well as beauty of the peristomes of Mosses becomes 

 very impressive. If the sole end be the protection and 

 extrusion of the spores in the proper weather respectively, 

 why is there this infinite wealth and variety of 

 form and of colour? The question can be asked, but 

 hardly can be answered : and the mind of the beholder 

 is left, as it so often is when contemplating the rich- 

 ness of Nature, in a state of admiration and wonder and 

 ignorance. " Kerum natura tota est nusquam magis quam 

 in minimis." 



If the reader will now return to my table A, at the 

 beginning of this article, he will see that I have given 

 some account of all the Musci except the Anomaleae ; 

 these are a somewhat heterogeneous group of plants, 

 of great interest to the botanist, but with which I fear 

 to detain my reader lest I should disgust him with 

 apparently dry details. 



Sphaynacece. Next in order to the Musci in my table A 

 will be found the Sphagnaceee, or Turf or Peat Mosses, 

 a natural group of comparatively few species and very 

 marked organization. The general appearance of this 

 class of Mosses may be gathered from the figure of 

 one already given (see Fig. 16), and is well known 

 to almost everyone who has had any interest in a 

 hot-house. 



