40 



is removed. The lid must also be removed with a fine pointed 

 knife or needle, and now a beautiful double peristome is in 

 view. The plant therefore belongs to that division of mosses 

 under the long bracket that has two rows of teeth, and must 

 be looked for between the numbers 41 and 55 inclusive. The 

 range is thus considerably narrowed. 



3rd. But, again consulting the key, we find that the terminal 

 fruiting mosses whose capsules have two rows of teeth, are 

 again divided in two sections, namely, those with flat cap- 

 sules, and those with terete or round capsules. The eapsuJe 

 on our plant is exactly round in section ; we may therefore 

 dismiss No. 41 from consideration, and confine our search for 

 the genus amongst Nos. 42 to 55 inclusive — i.e., to mosses 

 whose fruit is terminal, with double peristome, and with 

 terete or round capsules with short teeth, definite in 

 number. 



4th . But by the key we are informed that terminal fruiting 

 mosses, with double peristomes and with terete capsules, may 

 be again divided, by the form of the calyptra or veil, into 

 those with mitriform calyptra, and those with cncculate or 

 dimidiate calyptra. We have just previously noticed that the 

 calyptra was shaped like a helmet ; and if it is in that form, 

 it is assuredly cucculate or dimidiate. We may therefore dis- 

 miss Nos. 42, 43, and 44 from notice, for the calyptra of those 

 mosses is mitriform. 



5th. We again observe by the key that the bracket contain- 

 ing terminal fruiting, double peristomed, terete capsuled, 

 cucculate veiled mosses are again subject to five divisions, and 

 these are all included in Nos. 45 to 55 inclusive. We will 

 examine these divisions one by one : — Taking the largest 

 division first, we find that the leaves in that division are 

 various and the capsule cylindric. The capsule of our plant 

 is not cylindric, it is pyriform. We consequently dismiss this 

 division, containing Nos. 49 to 55, from further consideration, 

 this small pyriform capsuled plant does not belong to those 

 numbers. There are now only Nos. 45,46, 47, and 48 to con- 

 sider. No. 45, Bartramia, has a globose capsule ; that is not 

 the genus we require. No. 46 is Zygodon, with an ovoid 

 capsule; we pass over that genus. No. 47 is Codonoblepha- 

 rum, with erect capsule, and quite similar to Zygodon ; this 

 does not correspond with the capsule before us, and conse- 

 quently we pass it by. No. 48 is the only genus left for 

 consideration. The description reads — " FUNARIA, leaves 

 flaccid, cells large, lax. Capsule pyriform, inclined or pen- 

 dulous. Mouth small, teeth horizontal." On examination 

 of the plant under the microscope we find the generic des- 

 cription on the key faithfully describes the plant, and we 

 have no hesitation in placing it amongst the Funaria. 



