1857.] MUSCOLOGIA HIBERNICA. 229 



MUSCOLOGIA HIBERNICA. 



Bryum obconicum, Hornschuch, its discovery in Ireland, and 

 Localities for a few of the rarer Irish Mosses. By John H. 

 Davies. 



During the last two years I liave paid considerable attention 

 to this critical species_, the result of which has produced a decided 

 conviction of its distinctness from Bryum capillare. Although 

 Mr. Wilson tells me that near Bangor^ where he found what 

 he considered good B. obconicum one season^ he met with only 

 B. capillare the following, in my own neighbourhood I find 

 that it has retained its distinctive characteristics since I first 

 noticed it in 1854. The leaves are occasionally slightly con- 

 torted when dry, but never to that extent which is the case in 

 B. torquescens and capillare. From these it may readily be dis- 

 tinguished by its laxer habit of growth, its narrower, longer, 

 more symmetrical (pendulous) capsule, which, when ftilly ma- 

 tured, is of a very dark purple colour, and its operculum of a beau- 

 tiful bright blood-red. In choice of habitat it appears to prefer 

 shady hedge-banks of a sandy character, and old mortared walls, 

 in which latter situation I had the good fortune to gather it, at 

 Laragh, Wicklow mountains, in July last. I am not aware of 

 its having been previously recorded as an inhabitant of Ireland, 



My friend Mr. Carroll, of Cork, and Mr. Moore, of Dublin, 

 have each published in the ' Phytologist ' an interesting list of 

 Irish muscological rarities. The following are a few additional 

 localities from the counties Kildare and Wicklow. 



Campylopus longipilus, Brid. A curious variety (with female 

 flowers), almost entirely destitute of the bristly points to the 

 leaves; plentiful on a wet rock in Glen Millor, with Andreaa 

 Rot Mi, etc. 



Trichostomum fiewicaule, B. and S. Rocks at Phoul-a-Fooca 

 waterfall. 



Tortula vinealis, Brid., var. /3, flaccida, Wils. Not unfrequent 

 on hedge-banks in the neighbourhood of Ballitore and Duulavin, 

 and with fruit at Phoul-a-Fooca, intermixed with. Bryum p aliens. 



Tortula revoluta, Schwsegr. In fruit on old walls at Tnbber, 

 with Eucalypta streptocarpa. What may probably be this spe- 

 cies occurs on stone walls at Ballitore ; but from the absence of 

 fruit it is difficult to speak positively. 



