42 MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS 



(Bryum argenteum), and 17 (Bryum pallens) are 

 dioicous. At Plate III. fig. 8, moreover, we 

 have an example of a synoicous group. This repre- 

 sents some of the reproductive organs of the 

 Small-mouthed Thread-moss (Bryum inclinatum] . 

 It will he observed that the two kinds are inter- 

 mingled, accompanied, as usual, hy a number of 

 the thread-like paraphyses. 



It is impossible, I think, to contemplate this 

 mysterious act of fertilisation without feelings of 

 wonder, almost amounting to awe. That a living 

 thing of any kind should originate from the 

 union of two microscopic cells, is, of itself, 

 marvellous enough. But when we know that 

 that living organism will not only belong to one 

 particular tribe of plants, but that it will re- 

 produce the special form of the parent plant, and 

 will, moreover, repeat all the minutest details of 

 the latter, down to the shape and size of the 

 cells, and even the thickness of the cell-walls, 

 the marvel is increased beyond expression. 



But here we have come to one of the limits 

 to our knowledge, for we know no more what 

 fertilisation really is, how it is that so much is 

 brought about by the simple union of these two 

 cells, than we know what life itself is, and how 

 it originated. We can only note the altered 

 conditions that result from varied circumstances. 

 And this we do know, that when the fertilising 

 body has found its way to the base of the fruit- 



