46 HISTORY OF BRITISH MOSSES. 



name, La Charbonniere. Some are never found but upon 

 the dung of animals, of oxen, and particularly of foxes ; this 

 is tlie case with most of the species of the genus Splachnum. 

 One of these, the S. angustatiim, which is commonly met with 

 upon dung, we once saw growing vigorously upon the foot 

 of an old stocking near the summit of Ingleborough, York- 

 shire ; the same species was found by a friend of ours, cover- 

 ing the half-decayed hat of a traveller who had perished on 

 the mountain of St. Bernard in Switzerland ; and the same, 

 if we mistake not, was discovered by Captain Parry in Mel- 

 ville Island, vegetating in the bleached skull of a musk-ox." 

 We might detail further their varied localities, but shall 

 have more scope for this when we reach the description of 

 species. In tliese instances we see' in how many ways the 

 Creator of all can make the minutest objects minister di- 

 rectly or indirectly to the promotion of his plans of wisdom 

 and beneficence. 



" Nature boou 

 Pour'd forth profuse on hill and dale and plain, 

 Both where the momiug sun first warmly smote 

 The open field, and where the unpierced shade 

 Imbrowu'd the noontide hours." 



But it is not so much of the "habitats" of Mosses we 



