USNEA. 



123 



appearing as if hollow and inflated, — and connected by a 

 narrow but firm white medullary thread. Another variety 

 has been denominated intestiniformis, from the resemblance 

 of the turgid articulated branches to inflated intestines : 

 this we cannot help regarding as a finical subdivision. 



This species is very common on our older forest-trees, 

 especially firs, coating them with a shaggy grey fleece. 

 Along with various Rainalinas, Cornicularias, and Physcias, 

 it constitutes the u Beard-moss" or "Tree-moss" of the 

 poets, — the " idle moss" of Shakspeare. Poets usually 

 refer to filamentous and fruticulose corticolous Lichens as 

 " Moss ;" hence they speak expressively of venerable trees 

 being " mossed with age." In this sense the branches and 

 stems of the trees in the fir-woods which are common in 

 this neighbourhood (Perth) are completely " mossed " over. 

 Branches thus adorned are usually selected for the purposes 

 of the bird-stuffer, and must be familiar to all who have 

 seen collections of stuffed birds in public or private museums. 

 It is very widely distributed over the world. In India it is 

 one of the most common species ; it has also been found in 

 Ceylon ; on Chimborazo, and in Chili, in South America ; 

 in New Holland ; as far south as New Zealand and Tas- 

 mania ; and as far north as Lapland. It is said to be re- 



