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The Museum Gazette 



curiously twisted, hence the name of the genus ; the leaves of 

 t his species end in fine hair points. Various other Tovtulce 

 will be met with, all of which have the peristome twisted in 

 a similar manner. Another very common moss is Funafia 

 hygrometrica, so called because its seta, the stalk of the capsule, 

 "turns like a rope from right to left, or left to right, accord- 

 ing as it is moistened at the top or bottom." The capsule, 

 also, is very peculiar ; it is pyriform, with an oblique mouth, 

 while the peristome is double, closes the opening and lies flat 

 upon it ; the stems are short and the leaves ovate and con- 

 cave ; it is often found on spots where wood has been burnt. 



The species of Bvyum have mostly ovate capsules and a 

 double peristome, as has also the genus Mnium, one species 

 of which has already been alluded to ; the observer will 

 soon meet with many other interesting species. 



Nothing has been said thus far about the larger (Pleuro- 

 carpous) mosses, some of which are so abundant in our woods 

 and banks, &c. ; many of these are rarely found in " fruit," 

 while others " fruit " pretty freely. There are many interesting 

 species among them, but they are not perhaps so interesting 

 to the microscopist as the Acrocarpous species, such as those 

 which are mentioned above. 



For those who know very little of these plants I should 

 recommend Stark's " Popular History of British Mosses," 

 which can generally be procured second hand ; the plates will 

 be of great use to a beginner as giving a good idea of our 

 moss Flora ; there is, however, one disadvantage, that the 

 plates are arranged alphabetically and not in accordance with 

 the arrangement in the text. 



For those who know something of the mosses the book to 

 suit them is Dixon and Jamieson's " British Mosses," Second 

 Edition, which is "the latest work on the subject, and pro- 

 fusely illustrated. 



Thus far I have said almost nothing about the Hepaticse, 

 but if any one finding a species in fruit will place the 

 spores, elaters with which they are mixed, and the plant 



