MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS 67 



is still shrouded in mystery, but it is more 

 easy to appreciate the events which follow the 

 blending of the sex elements. In the case of 

 the Common Hair Moss it is a singular fact 

 that, after the spermatozoids have left the male 

 flowers, a fresh stem arises from the centre of 

 the cup-like device, and in time this may quite 

 likely produce a new inflorescence. With the 

 "flower" containing the egg cell, however, it is 

 not long before the production of the curious 

 little capsules is started ; these are at first quite 

 upright in their bearing, but will finally bend 

 over in the manner indicated in the photograph. 

 In the case of the Common Hair Moss the 

 capsule is, during its early stages, enclosed in 

 a hood ; but as the development goes forward 

 this covering is shed, and discloses the square 

 case with a little lid. Finally the lid falls off, 

 or, for the purposes of examination, we may 

 remove it, and it is possible to see that the 

 capsule at its mouth is covered with a skin, 

 save that all round the border there is a ring 

 of tiny holes. In the different kinds of moss 

 these openings in the capsule vary a great deal. 

 Now our capsule is full of spores, tiny specks 

 of life which are to be sent forth to the world 



