98 THE WOODLANDS. 



branches. Though in many respects they are very 

 like each other, they are very different, on account of 

 their rough squarrose habit, from other woodland 

 species. 



Others of this family are flattened, with the branches 

 all on the same plane, one imitating on a reduced 



THE THYME-LEAVED MOSS. 



scale the branches of a cypress, another something 

 like a delicate fern, with deeply-cut fronds ; others, 

 equally elaborate in their ramification, are glossy, 

 silky, glittering, and are, as far as beauty of form is 

 concerned, the princes of the mossy tribe. 



How fruitless is it in a running commentary of this 

 character to give any satisfactory idea of the variety 

 of form, the diversity of character, and yet withal the 



