MOSSES. 79 
of the largest species, growing from three to six 
inches in length, with ascending branched stems 
and large round pellucid leaves, is the spleenwort 
Jungermannia (¥. asplendoides), which is exceedingly 
common in moist woods, on shady banks, and 
among rocks. Equally large and growing in great 
tufts of a rich purple or even crimson colour, in the 
beds of mountain streams or on moist moors, is 
the shell-leaved Jungermannia (¥. cochleariformis). 
It is as lovely in texture as it is in hue. But the 
most beautiful of all the species is the ¥. tomentella. 
It is a very peculiar plant, and like no other 
European species. Its leaves, which are peculiarly 
pale in colour, and so crowded and cut into fine 
capillary interwoven segments, that the whole has 
almost the texture of sponge or flannel. It is 
found in great abundance where it does occur, 
although it is somewhat local and restricted in its 
distribution. In sub-alpine woods in the High- 
lands of Scotland it is by no means rare, and 
when it grows in great masses protruding its 
upper lobes, tier above tier on wet rocks beside 
waterfalls, it forms one of the loveliest spectacles 
upon which the eye of the lover of Nature can 
gaze, and which one would go far to see. 
