MOSSES. 63 
to the highly complex Hair or Feather-moss, which 
forms a miniature forest in the depths of the wood, 
and grows in some species to the length of two or 
three feet. In certain of the Hypnums, particu- 
larly the H. dendroides and H. alopecurum, may be 
found miniatures of every tree in an arboretum. 
Comparing the flowering plants with the mosses, we 
shall find something corresponding in each genus 
of the one to something in each order or family of 
the other. Thus while every kingdom starts on a 
platform of its own, and enjoys a perfection no less 
peculiarly its own, it anticipates the kingdom that 
is above it, and though the several perfections 
are unlike, there is thus a fine harmony between 
them. 
Mosses directly serve very few purposes in the 
economy of man. They are often employed for 
packing articles, for which they are admirably 
adapted. Linnzeus informs us that the Swedish 
peasantry fill up the spaces between the chimney 
and the walls in their houses with a particular 
kind, which prevents the action of the fire by the 
exclusion of air, viz. the Fontinalts antipyretica 
or great water-moss, which forms enormous masses 
a foot or more long, floating in rivers and stagnant 
water. Another species is sometimes employed 
in the manufacture of mats and brooms, The 
bog-moss supplies materials for mattresses. The 
