FERNS, MOSSES, AND LIVERWORTS. 95 



to, and the anecdote related so many times, that we 

 need not repeat it. 



" One tiny tuft of moss alone, 

 Mantling with freshest green a stone, 



Fix'd his delighted gaze ; 

 Through bursting tears of joy he smiled, 

 And while he raised the tendril wild, 



His lips o'erflow'd with praise. " 



This little moss, with its small plume-shaped 

 branches, " frequently of a deep metallic-green colour, 

 are seen reviving under the influence of autumn's 

 showers on almost every shaded clayey bank, as it 

 seems to shun spots that are much exposed to the 

 light. 1 The interest is increased when, towards the 

 close of winter, its dark green capsules throw off the 

 protecting lid, and display the bright red peristome, 

 closing or expanding according to the state of the 

 atmosphere." 



There is another moss, 2 allied to this in some 

 respects, which grows in extensive patches, but is 

 more common in marshy places than woods. The 

 stems are sometimes four inches in length, but the 

 distinctive characters of these species would be too 

 technical for our present purpose, and it is hardly 

 possible without them to convey an accurate idea of 

 their differences. Nevertheless, the " Broom Moss," 3 

 is one which is almost certain to attract attention. 

 The dense tufts are yellowish green, and from two to 

 four inches in height. The capsules are mature at 

 the end of summer, chestnut-coloured, and slightly 



1 Dicranum bryoides. 3 Dicranum scopariwn* 



2 Dicranum undulatum. 



