262 HISTORY OF BRITISH JIOSSES. 



legists. The beginner is most likely to mistake some of 

 these forms for H. commutatum, in which the nerve of the 

 leaf is shorter, and its direction less falcate. 



" I oft have mark'd, upoa the jutting rocks 

 That skirt a pool, recipient of the stream 

 After a playful leap, a shining moss. 

 Of golden hue, that won my admiration 

 By its rare beauty." 



61. Hypnum ATRO-viRENS, Dicks. {Dark-green Feather 

 3I0SS.) Branches procumbent ; leaves all slightly secund, 

 broadly ovate, with an attenuated obtuse point, the nerve 

 running nearly to the summit; capsule ovate, cernuous; lid 

 conical. — Ung. Fl.p. 98. H. filamentosum, BertoL, Mull. 

 8ijn.pt. 2.7;. 178. 



On rocks and trees, in mountainous districts. Fr. Spring. 

 A good deal like the preceding species, but distinguishable 

 fi'om it and others, besides the minute details of structure, 

 by its procumbent habit, and the thicker and softer texture 

 of its foliage. 



62. Hypnum palustre, Linn. {Marsh Feather Moss.) 

 Leaves secund, ovate, somewhat acuminate, concave, entire, 

 the margins incurved above, the nerve short, often forked, 

 sometimes obsolete ; capsule oblongo-ovate, cernuous ; lid 

 conical. — Etif/. Fl. p. 93 ; Miill. Syn. pt. 2. p. 424. 



