96 THE WOODLANDS. 



curved, the lid being surmounted by a long beak. 

 The long, narrow, pointed leaves are directed towards 

 one side, so as to impart a peculiar appearance, 

 which is readily recognized. 



" How glorious are the summer woods, 



Where the bright broom fork-moss grows ; 

 With their gush of love-born melody, 

 And their world of verdant boughs." 



The microscope has made many persons acquainted 

 with the capsules of a moss, which are often exhibited 

 to admiring friends by the possessors of that instru- 

 ment. These capsules are so sensitive to moisture 

 that when breathed upon, the teeth of the margin, 

 called peristome, expand like the tentacles of a minia- 

 ture sea anemone, and then, as the moisture evaporates, 

 close again. It is sometimes called the " Cord Moss," 

 but in this case it is, perhaps, better known by its 

 scientific name of Funaria hygrometrica, or as the 

 hygrometric moss. 



Those scorched places in woods where charcoal 

 has been burnt is a favourite locality for this little 

 moss, which the French consequently call la Char- 

 bonniere. The orange-red capsules are pear-shaped, 

 with the mouth turned over on one side, and may be 

 found throughout the summer in such a locality. 



The most common of the tufted mosses which 

 grow on the trunks of trees are certain species of 

 Orthotrichum. They grow in round, more or less com- 

 pact tufts, are often of a dull deep green, and the 

 leaves are very susceptible of moisture when dry, 

 being often curved, twisted, and contorted, but as 



