GENERAL REMARKS. 



383 



the degree of development of the membrane of the inner 

 peristome, and its adhesion to the base of the outer. As the 

 authors of the Muscologia Brit tan ica state that their Dalto- 

 nia agrees well in the inner peristome with Anomodon, there 

 is some reason to doubt the accuracy of the generic cha- 

 racters of both these genera, as given in the book alluded to. 



In Neckera, I have included Polytrichuni and Cryphdea of 

 Bridel, and Daltonia of Arnott. It is certainly a heterogene- 

 ous assemblage, particularly as regards habit. I have been 

 guided in this by the existence of every gradation between 

 the truly dimidiate calyptrae of the true Neckera and its mitri- 

 form state in Pilotrichum. The existence of the appendicular, 

 which appear to have first excited attention in Drepanophyl- 

 lum } is now, I believe, for the first time, pointed out as occur- 

 ring in Neckera. Neither are they limited to one section, 

 although three out of the four species in which they occur 

 agree tolerably well in habit j an 1 all are characterised by a 

 great tendency to elongation in their branches, to the lower 

 part of which elongation the appendicular are usually con- 

 fined. Their structure is that of Paraphyses ; their contents 

 similar apparently to the contents of the ordinary form of 

 anthers. As Paraphyses are perhaps, in all cases, abortive 

 anthers, these appendages may be considered as anthers at 

 the maximum of development. The objections to this exist 

 in their having no especial protecting organs, and in their 

 never appearing to dehisce. The question will be best set at 

 rest, by examining whether they ever co- exist with male flow- 

 ers of the ordinary form. If such is not the case, such spe- 

 cies cannot remain grouped with those which have male flow- 

 ers of the ordinary form. Neckera Ho )keriana and Adian- 

 tum have leaves of two distinct forms, the lateral and disti- 

 chous ones being alone oblique. This they possess in com- 

 mon with some Hookeriar, Leskiae and Hypna. In all, this 

 is only an instance of excess, as it were, of the difference 

 perceptible in the obliquity of the lateral leaves, and the 

 equilaterality of the anticous and posticous ones of many 



