643 BRYOLOGY OF souTHPORT. {Decemher , 



its near ally H. glareosum, Bruclij a truly dioicous species. 

 This was the crowning success of our already rich harvest, and 

 the delight felt by all was more than words can easily portray. 

 It proved however to he very sparing. The fructification was in 

 a beautiful state, though some of the capsules were not quite 

 ripe. However, we learned that about four miles from Southport, 

 near the Ainsdale station, between Liverpool and the former 

 place, similar ditches Avere said to exist, and where B. uliginosum 

 used to grow abundantly, and it occurred to us that possibly 

 also might be found there in company with it, this very rare and 

 interesting plant; it was however too late to go there on that 

 day, and I was obliged to return, on account of my professional 

 avocations, and my Liverpool friends were likewise compelled 

 by their engagements to do the same. I prevailed on Mr. 

 Nowell to remain until the following morning, to make a special 

 visit to the locality indicated, in search of this valuable and 

 much-desired species; and I am happy to say that) with his 

 usual good fortune, he met with it in abundance, and covered 

 with a profusion of capsules in the best possible condition; it 

 was confined however to a small space of some few yards in ex- 

 tent, growing in the sides of a deep dry ditch, and is a most 

 interesting addition to the Flora of that neighbourhood, as also 

 furnishing another habitat to the few already known to exist. 

 Bryum uliginosum,, in this situation, was scarcely to be seen, 

 although in former years it was most abundant. Thus ended 

 one of the most delightful excursions ; and few indeed are the 

 places in which so many rare and beautiful species are to be met 

 with in a space so limited. 



I shall be most happy to supply, as far as I can, any of your 

 readers or friends with examples of the plants collected, as my 

 greatest pleasure is to share, with those of kindred feelings and 

 pursuits, anything that is interesting to me that may happen 

 to fall in my way ; the pleasure of collecting is, in my opinion, 

 far surpassed by the gratification of sharing with others your 

 acquisitions. I forgot to mention H. Kneiffii, which is found 

 sparingly, but not now in fructification. Of this Moss I know 

 but little, but should think that it is very likely constantly over- 

 looked and passed by as a state of H. fluitans. 



Since writing the above, Mr. Marrat tells me in his letter that 

 he believes he gathered last year, at Southport, what he con- 



