BOTANICAL: THE LOWER ORDERS. 131 



The spores are held in the case by a beautifully contrived 

 peristome, as it is called (from two Greek words, peri, 

 " round about," and 

 stoma, " a mouth "). 

 Our object is mounted 

 in a deep cell, and 

 covered with a mov- 

 able glass lid, so that, 

 when uncovered, the 

 light from our lamp 

 can be thrown on to 

 the object; and from 

 the convex character 



Of the lens, with the Mouth of tbe capsule of a moss (Funaria), 

 , , ' t , showing the orifice of seed-vessel. 



increased light, there 



is an increased amount of heat. Now, what this little 

 moss would have required in its living form for growth 

 and fructification was light, heat, and moisture. I wish 

 you to know that it is fully five and twenty years since 

 this specimen was mounted for me, and yet its motion 

 has been, and still is, preserved. Let me show you what 

 I mean. While you look down our magic tube, I will 

 gently breathe into the capsule, and you will find the 

 toothed mouth gradually open to disperse its hollow con- 

 tents always ready, you see, for its work. My breath, 

 you know, contains both the properties, namely, heat and 

 moisture, the moss would have required ; and it is very 

 remarkable that, after so long a time, this speck in crea- 

 tion should be so ready for its work. It reminds us of 

 the motto of Lord Napier, " Heady ! ay, ready ! " 



One more illustration of the admirable arrangement 

 by which the embryo of the plant the future life, that is, 

 wrapped up and concealed in the seed is protected, and 

 the means employed for its release, 



