208 



THE MICROSCOPE. 



microscope, a number of curious little chains, looking 

 something like the spring of a watch, will be found 

 among it, their use being to scatter the seeds ; and if the 

 seed-vessel be examined while in 

 the act of bursting, these little 

 springs will be found twisting and 

 writhing about like a nest of ser- 

 pents. The undulating Hair-moss 

 ( Polytrichum undulatum), fig. 

 119, is found on moist shady 

 banks, and in woods and thickets. 

 The seed-vessel has a curious 

 shaggy cap ; but in its construc- 

 tion it is very similar to that of 

 the Screw-moss, except that the 

 fringe round its opening is not 

 twisted. The Funaria hygro- 

 metrica is a remarkable moss, 

 differing widely in its powers of 

 adaptation, and, consequently, in 

 its greater geographical range, 

 from most of its congeners. The 

 Funaria is found in fruit, not only 

 in London, but in every brick- 

 field around it. 



Confervoidece Algce. The 

 jointed Confervce and some Algce 

 are met with in the smallest ac- 

 cumulations of fresh water stand- 

 ing for any length of time in the 

 open air. They present the appearance of thread-like tubes, 

 having joints differing in length, and the manner in which 

 their contents are arranged. They multiply by means of 

 little granules contained in their tubes, which are enclosed 

 in tube after tube gradually added to the end of the previous 

 one. Among these Confervce, the most remarkable are the 

 Zygnema and Oscillatoria, both of which evince certain 

 degrees of approach to the animal kingdom. The species 

 of the latter genus form dark green and purple slimy 

 patches in damp places, or in water, and are exceedingly 

 remarkable for the power they possess of moving spontane- 



Fig. 119. Hair-Moss in Fruit. 



