6^2 CRYPTOGAMIA MUSCI. 



The pollen, or powder, is green. Linn^us fays, 

 that this capfule, or Anthera, when it burfts, 

 makes a fmall explofion. 

 There is a variety of this with flender capillary 

 branches, narrower and more acute leaves, and 

 longer ftalks, but in other refpefts limllar to the 

 foregoing. SctDil'en. mufc. t. 32./. 2. 



It is generally believed that the roots and decay'd 

 ilalks of this mofs confliitute a principal part of 

 that ufeful bituminous fubftance call'd peat, 

 which is the chief fuel of the northern regions. 

 So that thofe parts of the creation, which, to 

 the inconfiderate mind of man, appear the moft 

 trifling and infignificant, will be often found, 

 upon mature enquiry, to be ordain'd by Provi- 

 dence for the wifeft and mofl: gracious purpofes. 

 The Lapland matrons are well acquainted with this 

 ; mofs. They dry and lay it in their children's 



,,.. , cradle, to fupply the place of bed, bolder, and 

 . every covering-, and, being chang'd night and 

 morning, it keeps the infant remarkably clean, 

 \ dry, and v/arm. It is fufficiently foft of itfelf, 



, but the tender mother, not fatisfied with this, 

 . . frequently covers the mofs with the downy hairs 

 of the rein-deer, and by that means makes a 

 moll delicate neft for the new-born babe. FL 

 Lappon. 



PHASCUM. 



