2 



The Naturalist. 



already bearing fruit, and some of our members are already beginning 

 to work them up with considerable success, and we sincerely trust 

 that their example will speedily be followed. The harvest is ample 

 enough, it only requires reapers. 



As to meetings of Societies, we must ask our friends the secretaries 

 to make their reports as short as possible consistent with their interest, 

 and to report those portions only which may be of general interest, 

 leaving out all extraneous matters ; this will save both them and our- 

 selves much labour and not a little disappointment. If they consider 

 that at present the space at our disposal is only limited, they will 

 readily see the reason for this friendly hint. 



In conclusion, to all we would say, that as our labours are done con 

 amove, give us your best assistance, and we will spare no pains or 

 labour to render your work available and useful, and whenever we find 

 it advisable, or possible, wiU increase the size of the Journal. Our 

 success depends entirely upon our subscribers and contributors ; let 

 them only use their best endeavours to give and get us a fair measure 

 of support, and we will guarantee that their labours shall not be 

 without fruit. 



ON MOSSES (Continued.) 

 By Wm. West. 



Forms of thickening are found in the spiral bands of the elaters 

 of hepatic* and in the theca of mosses. In Marchantiacea an epidermis 

 is found, as well as on the thecse of mosses having stomatal perforations, 

 and in the leaf, veins, and stems of the highest mosses, elongated cells 

 are found approaching slightly to a fibro-vascular system. On the 

 foregoing characters is based the primary classification of the Muscinea. 



I will now give you the distinguishing characteristics between the 

 two groups of the Miiscine^, contrasting them as much as possible, 

 in doing which I shall of necessity repeat something I have already 

 said, but that will not matter if I can succeed in thoroughly showing- 



* Read before the Bradford Scientific Association, on May IGth, 1877. 



