226 PEARLS AND PEBBLES. 



ance, is not wanting in the peculiar gface of outline 

 which is so attractive in Hypnv/m splendens. 



It is somewhat remarkable that the larger and more 

 conspicuous plants of the moss tribe are less distin- 

 guished by their fruitage than the smaller ones, some of 

 which, lowly, tiny, insignificant as to size, attract the 

 eye by the bright array of shining capsules displaying 

 rich tints of red and brown, fawn or orange color. Very 

 lovely these tiny cups look contrasted with the various 

 shades of green, pale straw color, deep purplish-bronze, 

 grey, silvery -white, or whatever the prevailing color of 

 the moss may be. 



There seems to be no end to the number and Variety 

 of species of mosses that are to be found, whether in the 

 deep shade of the primeval forest, in swampy fens or 

 bogs, in the water, floating and waving as the wind 

 moves the surface, in the crevices of rocks where a little 

 soil sustains them, or on the rugged stone which they 

 clothe, as if to kindly hide the rough, bare surface. 



No soil so barren, no desert so dry, but some kind of 

 moss will find a spot where it may grow and flourish, 

 take root and display its tufts of verdure, its rosy stems 

 and capsules. 



Look at this forest of red stalks, each crowned with a 

 shining cap. The leaf is so minute you can hardly 

 distinguish it, but the fruit is bright and beautiful. The 

 soil is hard and arid, incapable of supporting anything 

 save this Red Moss (Ceratodon purpureus). 



