30 GYMNOSTOMI. [ Schistostega. 



These observations appear to have been made upon a single 

 specimen ; and even here there is nothing like the revolution of 

 the segments described by Hedwig and Mohr. Indeed, Nees and 

 Hornschuch doubt if this latiniating membrane be really the 

 operculum, and if it be not rather a,membrane beneath the oper- 

 culum, analagous to that of Hymenostomum. Certain it is, that 

 what we have seen and described is the real operculum, and when 

 it is separated from the capsule naturally, or by art, nothing re- 

 mains at the margin of the mouth. 



From all, now, that we can collect upon this subject, it appears 

 to us that the operculum of Schistostega being thin and mem- 

 branous, and having the cellules of which it is composed arranged 

 in straight lines, and probably in a single series, radiating from 

 the centre to the circumference, it has a great tendency in age, 

 and when approaching a state of decay, to split in the direction of 

 those rays ; but that such a division ought not to be compared 

 with that of the teeth of a true peristome. 



We believe the Schistostega is found in no country except 

 England and Germany. 



1. S.pennata, (TAB. VIII.) 



Schistostega pennata. Muse. Brid. ed. 1. Punch, Deutschl Moose, t. 

 6. n. 1. Arn. Disp. Muse. p. 11. 



S. osmundacea. Mohr, Fl. Crypt. Germ. p. 92. Nees et Hornsch. 

 Bryol. Germ. v. 1. p. 108. t. 11. / 1. 



Gymnostomum pennatum. Hedw. St. Cr. v. I. t. 29. Schwaegr. 

 Suppl. v. I. p. 19. Brid. Meth. p. 16. 



G. osmundaceum. Smith, FL Brit. p. ] 161. Engl. Bot. t. 2213. 

 Mnium osmundaceum. Dicks. PL Crypt. Fasc. 1. t. 1. f. 4>. 

 HAB. First discovered in Britain by Mr. Newberry, in the 

 road from Zele to South Tawton Church, near Oke- 

 hampton, Devonshire ; and, in the same county, by the 

 Rev. J. S. Tozer, on the Kingsbridge road, soon after 

 quitting the old road from Totness to Plymouth ; near 

 the village of Haberton about two and a half miles from 



aber eben so schnell, ihrer Zartheit wegen, von obeii iiach unten ganz verlieren, 

 so dass man gewb'hnlich bey alteren Exemplaren nur noch Reste derselhen am 

 innern Rande die Mundung erblicken kann. 



