INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOGAMIC BOTANY. 473 



only in a limited number of genera. In the following tabular 

 view I have adopted in great measure the arrangement of 

 Bruch and Schimper, as it appears in Wilson's Bryologia, in 

 conjunction with that contained in Montagne's excellent article 

 in Orbigny's Dictionary, to which latter the student may be 

 referred for many valuable remarks on the structure of Mosses 

 in general. Mr. Wilson's work is entirely founded on close 

 personal examination, and is indispensable to the student of 

 Mosses, whether British or exotic. I have not included Sphag- 

 nei in the acrocarpous mosses, as is the case in Montague's 

 arrangement ; for if the distinction of Cladocarpi is to be 

 kept up, these cladocarpous mosses, which have no close affi- 

 nity with any Acrocarpi, ought surely to be excluded. The 

 distinction, of course, between Pleurocarpous and Cladocarpous 

 is very nice ; but whether it be right or wrong to retain the 

 divisions, if there be any natural groups, they are to be found 

 in the distinction of the great mass of Pleurocarpous from 

 Acrocarpous mosses. It is not, however, to be denied that 

 there are anomalies, as in Clnclidotus and Fissidens ; but 

 this may be said of every system. Fissidens is, in fact, to 

 DicranuTJi what Ancectangium is to Zygodon. I cannot, 

 however, regard Sphagnei and Andrcmcei as distinct natural 

 orders from other mosses. 



