MOSSES 51 



it by unnoticed, though the more practised eye 

 of the moss-hunter would doubtless be attracted 

 by the minute green growth, showing itself here 

 and there where some slight hollow retains the 

 moisture longer than in the more exposed parts 

 of the field. In this case the capsule is pear- 

 shaped (pyriforni}. I have given the capsule 

 figured at Plate IV.a, fig. 14, on account of its 

 very unusual form ; indeed, there is something 

 quite elfish in the appearance of the plant from 

 which it is taken (Buxbaumia aphylla, or the 

 Leafless Buxbaumia), for it consists of little else 

 than this strange-looking capsule, the leaves being 

 reduced to a few scale-like growths. One is not 

 surprised that, in former days, before its true 

 nature had been ascertained, it was thought to 

 be some form of fungoid growth. It is far from 

 being a common plant, and, indeed, is distinctly 

 rare, though it may sometimes be found on the 

 ground, or on rotten wood, generally preferring 

 the shade of a fir wood. It has a very peculiar 

 way of suddenly disappearing, and will seldom 

 revisit old haunts. 



The above instances will serve to show some 

 of the more general shapes which the capsule 

 takes, though many slight variations occur in 

 the various species, all of which are important 

 as helps to identification. Let me add a few 

 illustrations of such variations. At Plate IV. 

 fig. 2 is a representation of the capsule of the 



