412 On the Mosses found in the 



birtli to a sixth family. One or two other experiments, with the 

 same results, prove satisfactorily that that assertion of Jurine's is in- 

 correct. 



The motion of most of the species of this genus is chiefly by short 

 bounds through the water, the most important organ producing the 

 motion being the rami, or arms, as Swammerdam calls them. Such 

 is the motion or manner of swimming in the pulex and vetvla, &c. 

 but in the cornuta it is different, the motion in that species being con- 

 tinued, or produced by incessant motion of the rami, and not by short 

 bounds at a time. In my paper on the Cyclops, (Vol. i. p. 319,) I 

 have mentioned Jurine's experiments upon the faculty these insects 

 were said to possess of returning to life after being dried. Schceffer 

 has instituted some experiments upon this subject with regard to the 

 Daphniae also, and his results are, that after having exposed the in- 

 sect with eggs in the matrix, for a considerable time to a dry atmo- 

 sphere, and then replacing it in water, the eggs did not lose their vi- 

 tality, but were after a time hatched as usual. Sulzer, as quoted 

 by Straus, says that the parents return to life also ; but in the expe- 

 riments reported by Straus, he never found either mother or eggs 

 recover their vitality. The food of these insects, according to Straus, 

 consists of vegetable matter, and not animal ; but I have no doubt 

 that they are carnivorous, as well as the other genera I have 

 mentioned,* as I have invariably found that of two groups placed in 

 separate small vessels of clear water, the one having only particles 

 of vegetable matter placed beside them, while with the others there 

 were also introduced minute animalcules, the latter were stronger 

 and more active and throve better than the former, 



(To be continued.) 



IV. — Remarks on the Mosses found in the neighbourhood of Aber. 

 deen. By G. Dickie, Esq. 

 Before proceeding to enumerate the mosses found in this neigh- 

 bourhood, it will perhaps be necessary to give an outline of the 

 botanical character of the district in regard to its flowering plants. 

 This I shall do as briefly as possible, taking as a guide the remarks 

 made by Mr Watson at pp. 58, 59, &c. of his interesting work on 

 the Geographical Distribution of British Plants. On comparing 

 the Flora of Aberdeen with the remarks at pp. 60, 61 of the work 

 referred to, it would appear that this district partakes of the cha- 

 racter both of the northern part of the Region of the Plains and also 

 of the Upland Region, the former toward the north being characte- 



