1858.] BRYOLOGY OF SOUTHPOUT. 641 



frequently sent to rae as such, but that also has features peculiar 

 to itself, which at once separate it from the plant under conside- 

 ration. The dark brilliant purple, almost black, colour of the 

 foliage of the former serves to distinguish it at sights as also by 

 other differences, to which it is here needless to allude. Cata- 

 scopium nigritwn, a species hitherto considered so rare and local, 

 occurs here in great abundance, in all the damp hollows on both 

 sides of the town ; it grows in extensive patches for many yards 

 together, forming large convex cushions, the vivid green of the 

 foliage contrasting most admirably with the bright-red setse and 

 brilliant-black capsules, which rose up in thousands, and pre- 

 sented, under the bright rays of a noonday sun, a most gorgeous 

 and lovely appearance, that filled our minds with .ecstasy and de- 

 light ', it was indeed a treat to all of us, and the remembrance of 

 which will not be readily efiaced. Mr. Marrat finds it also in 

 plenty on the Cheshire side of the Mersey, near New Brighton, 

 in similar" situations. B, cernuum covers the ground for many 

 square yards together ; it was now out of season ; the earth was 

 literally red with its innumerable capsules, and in May must 

 present a most interesting sight. B. pseudo-triquetrum is found 

 plentifully in various places, but the fruit was over-ripe. H. 

 cupressiforme, var. [H. nigro-viride, Dickson), is also very com- 

 mon, its dark lurid-green patches being very conspicuous. H. 

 lutescens and albicans are also of frequent occurrence, but of 

 course at this season not in fruit. Tor tula convoluta, Didy mo- 

 don rubellus, and Trichostomum flexicaule, the latter in a very 

 dwarf state, are likewise very common. B. uliginosum is found 

 only by the sides of a ditch near to Birkdale church; it was 

 sparing in quantity, and, from the unusual dryness of the sum- 

 mer, was not so tall and luxuriant as we meet with it in this 

 neighbourhood, though the capsules were in perfection, and 

 beautifully expressive of the peculiar character which marks the 

 species. In searching for this plant, my friend Mr. Nowell 

 pulled up witb it a species of Hypumn, which, to our inexpres- 

 sible delight, proved to be the rare H. salebrosum of Hoffmann, 

 and which, as observed by Mr. Wilson, is a strictly monoicous 

 species, the barren and fei'tile flowers being very conspicuous on 

 the same shoots; this circumstance, combined with the difier- 

 ence in the form of its leaves, which are shorter, less tapering, 

 and more obviously serrate, serves to distinguish it readily from 



N. S. VOL. II. 4 N 



