MICROSCOPE IN THE COUNTRY. 35 



Fig. 106, PL 4. A series of hollow elongated cases 

 will be found lying between compressed elongated 

 tissue. In these cases a series of rather oval minute 

 cells will be found, which are the spores of the peziza. 

 If these are magnified with a higher power, they 

 will be seen to be covered over with minute spores. 



Amongst the objects which more especially 

 attract the attention of observers in the country, 

 in winter time, are the various forms of lichens, 

 which grow parasitic upon the barks of trees. There 

 is one of a yellow colour, which spreads on palings 

 and the barks of trees, like dried pieces of yellow 

 paper. At the surface of the membranous scales of 

 which the plant is composed will be found deeper 

 yellow spots. If one of these is cut through, and a 

 thin section placed under the Microscope, it will be 

 found to possess very similar organs to the peziza. 

 A series of cases will be found, containing the 

 minute spores by means of which the plant is re- 

 produced (Fig. i07, PL 4). 



A walk across a damp uncultivated piece of 

 ground will not fail to reveal some spots which are 

 boggy. Amongst this the bog-moss must be looked 

 for, and when found, it may be regarded as a good 

 illustration of the family of mosses, and portions 

 preserved for microscopic examination. The leaves 

 afford interesting examples of fibre-cellular tissue 

 (Fig. 108, PL 4), arid this tissue may be, exa- 

 mined from day to day, as affording an illustration, 

 of the pi'ocess of development in vegetable tissue. 

 Other forms of mosses may be found on banks, old 

 walls, rocks, and crevices. The organs which pro- 

 duce the spores, or seeds, are well deserving the 

 attention of the microscopic observer. These re- 

 present the pistils in the higher plants. The 

 organs which represent the stamens are also very 

 interesting, but they are not so easily procured. 

 D 2 



