96 MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS 



distinctive characteristics. In the lower part of 

 Plate VII. will he found a few typical illustra- 

 tions of cell-structure, all, it will be observed, 

 drawn with a high magnifying power. Pig. 34 

 is an instance of some cells from a leaf of one of 

 the Thread-moss (Mnium) family, in which group 

 the leaves are specially large, and the leaf-cells 

 correspondingly conspicuous. Those given at fig. 

 35, on the other hand, are small and dot-like; 

 those at fig. 36 are larger, but still more or less 

 rounded ; while those at fig. 37 are rectangular, 

 and those at fig. 38 hexagonal. Again, the cells 

 drawn at fig. 39, taken from one of the so-called 

 Pringe-mosses (Rhacomitrium), have a curiously 

 wavy outline, which is specially characteristic of 

 most of the members of this family, and which, as 

 may be naturally supposed, constitutes a very 

 noticeable feature. Pig. 40 represents the long, 

 narrow cells of such mosses as the Peather-mosses 

 ( Hypnacece) . In this case it will be noticed that 

 the cells are pointed at the ends ; in other species 

 which have long cells the ends of the cells are 

 rounded, while in others, again, they are flat. 

 Pig. 41 illustrates the wonderful cell-structure 

 which is so characteristic of the Bog-mosses 

 (Sphagna) ; here we get two forms of cell, namely, 

 those which are narrow and somewhat opaque, and 

 those which are much larger and transparent, and 

 which generally contain a number of delicate 

 fibres or threads on the cell walls. It is on 



