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In turning over the plates of Mosses in that large and mag- 
nificent work, it will be seen that the plants vary in colour 
from the palest green, as in some Hypna, to almost black, as 
in Andrecea, and after a little thorough Moss hunting, we are 
able to form a fair idea of the genus to which the tuft belongs 
by its colour, its habit, and its locality. For instance, the 
sombre-looking Andrecea Petrophila loves the bleak rock, the 
feathery Hypnum selects to slumber in the sylvan shade, 
whilst the scarlet frmged Splachnum may rarely be found, 
except on decayed animal substances. 
But closer observation than the above mentioned is required 
in order to precisely identify the genus to which a Moss 
Plant belongs, and this leads me to call your attention to the 
key to genera of Mosses of Tasmania now submitted to 
your notice. It will be observed that I have therein followed 
the principle that “the characters must all be derived from 
the number, form, proportion, and situation of the organs of 
fructification,’ and in so doing I only follow in the wake of 
eminent muscologists, such as Hedwig, Hooker, Schimper, 
Muller, Wilson, and Mitten. 
In this key the Mosses are in the first place divided into 
terminal fruiting and lateral fruiting plants; this division at 
once ridding us of a host of genera as we proceed to identify. 
When a Moss has been carefully classed, as, for example, a 
laterally fruiting Moss, then the microscope must be brought 
into requisition to decide the remaining characters. They are 
as follows :— 
The capsule, or theca of a Moss Plant, is supported on a 
pedicel or footstalk, called the seta. This isin some genera 
very long, and in others very short, and frequently forms a 
specific as well as a generic character. 
The supported capsule varys in size and form, and is com- 
posed externally and internally of strongly marked parts. 
The capsules of Bartramia, or Apple Moss, are generally 
spherical ; the Phascum capsule is ovate and bursts irregularly 
when ripe; Campylopus gracefully bends its neck and buries 
its oblong urn amongst its foliage; Tortula is elongated, and 
twisted in parts, whilst the robust Polytrichum is erect and 
quadrangular. 
The capsules of many are furrowed, others are spotted, 
whilst the Hypna, and other genera growing in shaded nooks, 
are more frequently of slight fabric and smooth. 
This graceful form of fruit is protected by a calyptra, or veil, 
im some genera dimidiate, and in others mitriform. From the 
character of the veil important generic distinctions are derived. 
If we gently raise the veil,the operculum becomes at once visible, 
and forms a tiny but perfect close fitting lid to the capsule. 
It is very long beaked in some genera, and scarcely convex in 
