CATOSCOPIUM. 285 



none or simple, or, most commonly, double, outer teeth 16, trans- 

 versely trabeculate ; inner shorter, processes cleft into two 

 divisions, cilia imperfect or none. Male inflorescence usually 

 discoid. 



A very natural group of mosses, having (with the exception 

 of a few exotic species) an almost uniform type of capsule, which 

 when young is bright glaucous green, and smooth, but on ripening 

 becomes brown and usually deeply sulcate. There is also a 

 remarkable uniformity about the areolation throughout the 

 Order; the papillose, short narrow cells of most of the species 

 being very characteristic. 



The papillae in this Order are mostly found, when present, 

 not in the middle of the face of the cell, as is usually the case, but 

 at either the upper or lower end, or both. They may, however, 

 occur in the usual position. 



67. CATOSCOPIUM Brid. 



Slender, densely casspitose. Leaves narrow, lanceolate- 

 subulate, areolation small, rectangular , smooth. Seta slender, 

 capsule minute, sub-globose, hard, blackish, shining, smooth, 

 cernuous. Peristome single, of 16 short obtuse teeth ; rudiments 

 of an inner peristome sometimes visible. 



The affinities of this genus are doubtful. In fruit it very 

 much resembles Discelium, but the areolation is very different, 

 and is certainly more like the typical areolation of this Order, 

 though without the usual papillae. The following species is the 

 only one of the genus. 



1. Catoscopium nigritum Brid. (Weisia nigrita Hedw.) 



(Tab. XL. A.). 



Densely tufted, bright or brownish green ; stems very 

 slender, straight, not much branched, 2-6 inches high, radiculose 

 below. Leaves small, slightly crisped when dry, lanceolate, 

 gradually tapering to an almost subulate point, margin narrowly 

 recurved to above middle, entire; nerve gradually vanishing in 

 the point, prominent at back. Areolation small, nearly uniform, 

 narrowly rectangular , at base about 3-6 times as long as broad, 

 above rather shorter and slightly irregular, those of the marginal 

 row shorter, sub-quadrate ; all slightly incrassate, smooth. Seta 

 very slender, rigid, £-f inch long ; capsule minute, sub-globose, 



