256 BRYOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 
the 1-2 cilia between the processes are short, nodose, widened at base, 
and the dimensions and seulpturing of the peristome in the two are 
exactly similar. The ~~ ecium structure is rather distinct in the 
form of the cells, but is similar in the two except that in the turgid 
capsule of W. Billia rdieri they are almost isodiametrical, while in the 
elongate capsule of L. coc hlearifolium they are de cidedly elongate, 
though of quite the same character, rather widely hexagonal, arrange 
in fairly regular longitudinal rows, and incrassate. 
Closer investigation of these ippavet differences in the fruiting 
characters, moreover, showed that they were far from constant. The 
lid of W. "Billardieri is stated to be acuminate, that of L. cochlear- 
folium obtuse, but I have both acute and o tuse lids on the same 
stem. e length of the seta undergoes a very unusual variation on 
me 
mediate stages; on a single stem there are setae of ag 1.3 and two of 
Petrie’s from Leith Valley, Dunedin , the seta is 
characteristic of W. Billardieri, while the eapsule is intermediate in 
form 
There can, to sum up, be no doubt that the two plants are not 
only congener but conspecific, and the plant with turgid capsules 
and u mene more flexuose stems is at the most a varietal form. 
a ould appear that the view taken in the Handbook of the N.Z. 
FI. is the same as that at which I have arrived; although it was not 
till I a formed the opinion age I recognized this fact. A that work 
the plant deseribed as the e-form of Hyp. cochlearifolium 
Schwaegr. is the pepsi pendulous form d 
figured by Hooker in the Musci exotici. This is followed by the des- 
eription of ‘‘var. £8. Stems more or less pendulous; Rrainshes shorter ; 
fruit-stalk very short, stout; capsule more rounded; operculum acu- 
minate.’’ There is Rene a to indicate the authorship of the variety, 
nor whether the recorded “distribution of the species applies to the 
type or the var. Whichever is the case, there can be little doubt that 
the var. Billardieri is intended by the var. £ though I have not seen 
it cited in Seba synonymy of W. Billardieri. 
W. cochlea ee ‘occasionally but rarely shows a very highly 
flagelliferous s 
Fleischer distributed a ‘‘n. var. luxuriens’’ from Taranaki 
sage frond. Arch. Ind. et Polynes., No. 427); but it does not. appear 
o me to be more robust gee the ordinary forms. His oe a typica’ 
Ga. No. 470) is perhaps rather more slender than us 
I have received from Ta smania a specimen amit “« Meteorium 
molle var. majus Bastow’’ which I believe to be an authentic speci- 
men of Bastow’s plant; if so, and Bastow’s description quite lends 
itself to this conclusion, it is only W. cochlearifolia. 
2. Weymouthia mollis (Hedw.) Broth. op. et loe. cit. 
Syn. Leskea mollis Hedw. Sp. Muse., p. 234 (1801). Neckera 
mollis C.M. Syn. ii, 131. Stereodon mollis Mitt. in Journ. 
