MOSSES. 



25 



bleak spots, and bear their seed in tiny globes. 

 Each globe is made up of four valves, which split 

 open to let the seed escape, but are still held 

 together at the top by a very small lid, which does 

 not fall off. These little plants are called ' Split- 

 mosses/ There are others, called ' Scale-mosses,'* 

 not much unlike these in the shape of the seed- 

 vessel, but having no lid, so that the four valves 

 burst quite asunder when the seed is ripe. 



''The mosses in Mary's nosegay belong to a 

 vast family, called ( Urn-mosses ;' their seed-vessels 



being urn-shaped. You have often seen on the 

 garden wall small tufts of moss with a number of 



* Jungermannia resupinata. 



