HALF-HOURS IN THE GREEN 



CHAPTER X. 



THE MOSHES, FUNGI, AND LICHEN!:! OF THE, GREEN 

 LANES. 



ESIDES the more prominent and attractive 

 objects to be noticed in any country 

 stroll, a little extra attention reveals 

 the presence of others whose smallness 

 alone has concealed them. Among these are the 

 mosses and lichens. You find them everywhere, 

 and William Hunt's pretty sketches have shown us 

 what miniature fairy-glens and grottos are dis- 

 tributed over the hedge-banks of our country lanes ! 

 Let us take the mosses first. You find them 

 growing abundantly on the top and in the interstices 

 of any old wall, especially if it be in a shady place. 

 You thrust aside the plants on the hedge or dyke 

 banks, and find other species growing at their roots. 

 The bole of an old tree is a rich hunting-ground for 

 them, for several species have already upholstered 

 the rough bark with those delicate shades of velvety 

 green that artists love to paint. Perhaps in your 

 examination of some of the mosses especially the 



