Our Atmosphere and the Ether of Space. 211 



slender than the fertile ones, their flowers gemmiform and 

 terminal. 



The leaves are sub-erect, ligulate, or strap-shaped, obtuse 

 and cuculate or hooded, at the apex, slightly crisped, or 

 twisted when dry, with a purplish nerve ceasing at or near the 

 apex ; the upper leaves of a light green, the lower brownish, 

 the perichaetial leaves approaching to obovate at the base, 

 lanceolate subulate above, and erect. 



The calyptra is longer than in most of the species, sub- 

 cylindrical, rostellate, approaching to subulate, rough and 

 spinulose at the apex, lacinated, at first somewhat fringed at 

 the base, of a yellowish brown colour, and coriaceous con- 

 sistence. Its lacinated base arising from the same cause as 

 that of E. ciliata, i. e., from the spongy tissue crowning the 

 vaginula, and which being of less firm consistence than the 

 calyptra is torn away with it. 



The spiral ribs of the capsule are more deeply coloured, and 

 are of firmer texture than the interstices between them. 



Thus we have attempted to describe all the hitherto known 

 British species of this well-marked and interesting genus ; and 

 we trust that in so doing, we shall have furnished work for 

 some microscopes, and pleasure for their possessors. 



OUR ATMOSPHERE AND THE ETHER OF SPACE. 



In the Intellectual Observer, vol. ii. p. 408, we laid before 

 our readers the views of M. Quetelet concerning the great 

 probable height of our atmosphere, and its division into two 

 parts, the lower one being the seat of much movement and 

 agitation, the upper portion being extremely light, stable, and 

 probably of different chemical composition. In Cosmos (18th 

 Feb., 1864) we find the following report of remarks on this 

 subject by Father Secchi the Roman astronomer : — 



" The shooting stars observed at Rome years ago, with the 

 aid of the telegraph, have given an approximative estimate of 

 height of eighty kilometres at the least.* That indicates a 

 much greater height of the atmosphere than is ordinarily 

 supposed. But what is the composition of this atmosphere ? 

 That is impossible to define. The phenomena of ordinary 

 electricity carefully studied at the time of auroras may afford 

 us some light. I am of opinion that the idea, which i3 

 beginning to be accepted, that auroras depend upon dis- 

 charges of atmospheric electricity in elevated regions is 

 correct, and if so it will be very interesting to determine the 



* The kilometre is rather more than ak-tentha of a mile (0'6214). 

 VOL. V. — NO. III. Q 



