OF THE MOSSES AND THEIR ALLIES. 145 



examine the neighbourhood (especially where it varies a 

 little in elevation or dampness) for male plants. c Practice 

 makes perfect/ and though frequent disappointments may 

 occur, success will follow, in a greater or less degree, as he 

 applies himself more vigorously to his work. 



In gathering the Hepaticse it is indispensable to secure 

 the organs of fructification : these are of simpler structure 

 and lower organisation than in the Mosses, consisting of 

 capsules either imbedded in the thick cellular frond (the 

 Kiccise), or elevated on footstalks (Marchantia, Junger- 

 mannia, &c.\ but in either case unprovided with the 

 calyptra and operculum, the hoods which distinguish and 

 protect the spore cases of the true Mosses. When then the 

 latter plants are placed in the bag or vasculum, precautions 

 must be taken against losing the hoods, as they are of 

 great service in the elucidation of genera, and unhappily 

 they are very apt to drop off — [I always myself ■ bottle ' a 

 few small specimens, the enclosed moisture preventing the 

 separation of the calyptra from the theca. The leaves too 

 are kept fresh and the plants generally are saved from 

 rubbing and consequent mutilation. This refers more 

 particularly to the Jungermanniae, the extreme delicacy of 

 whose fruit, and stem, and leaves demand most tender 

 treatment. The i bottling ' also ensures a specimen being 

 ready for examination immediately on returning home ; 

 though this is by no means essential, as all the Moss tribe 

 speedily recover their plumpness and general appearance, 

 on being immersed in water, after they have been long 

 dried. — Ed.] 



They are very easily prepared for the herbarium, all 

 that is necessary being to separate them into convenient 

 portions, pick out all foreign bodies (such as fragments of 

 leaves, &c), place them between blotting-paper, and sub- 

 mit them to the press. The weights employed must be 

 of the lightest, as otherwise the natural appearance of the 

 plants are distorted. The true Mosses are usually divided 

 into two chief sections — the Acrocarpi, or those in which 



L 



