MICROSCOPE IN THE COUNTRY. 37 



the case, forming what is called the " annulus." 

 This ring possesses an elastic power ; so that when 

 it breaks, the capsule is torn open, and the spores 

 in the inside escape. The spores are covered over 

 with little spines (Fig. 11 3, a, PL 4). The spores 

 of ferns are often called seeds, but they are more 

 like buds than seeds. If one of these spores is 

 watched during its growth, it will be found that it 

 grows into a little green membranous expansion, 

 on the surface of which the two sets of organs 

 resembling the pollen grains and ovules of the 

 higher plants are developed. The representatives 

 of the pollen grains are little moving bodies, re- 

 sembling animalcules, which pass over the surface of 

 the membranous expansion till they reach the ovules, 

 or true spores of the fern, which they fertilize, and 

 the young plant then shoots forth. The ferns, of 

 which so many species may be found in a walk in 

 the country, or cultivated in a Ward's case in town, 

 are worthy the minute attention of the possessor of 

 a Microscope, on account of the great variety of 

 forms which their organs of fructification present. 



The club-mosses are found on boggy moors and 

 open places, and present a variety in the forms of 

 their fructification. The reproductive organs are 

 formed out of a transformed branch, and are found 

 lying at the base of scale-like bodies, resembling 

 the scales which form the fruit of firs aufl pine- 

 trees (Fig. 115, a, PL 4). The spores of the club- 

 mosses are of two kinds, large and small ; hence 

 they are called " megaspores " and " microspores." 

 The last are very minute (Fig. 115, b, PL 4). When 

 highly magnified, they present a reticulated appear- 

 ance (c). In the interior of these spores is a minute 

 vermicular body, which acts the part of the pollen 

 in higher plants. The megaspores are much larger. 

 Thev represent the spores of ferns, and produce an 



