BEYOLOGICAL NOTES. 



By W. West. 



Mr. Hobkirk says, in tlie last number of the Naturalist^ tliat Boulay 

 states in the " Revue Bryologique " that Wilson made an error in his 

 description of the peristome of Orthodontium gracile. Before bryolo- 

 gists accept that Wilson made such a mistake, his specimens ought 

 to be examined ; so ought those of Schimper and Miieller, as they 

 are said to fall into the same error. I have carefully examined a few 

 mature capsules, and I find that the inner processes are shorter than 

 the outer peristome, but irregular, mostly about half the length, a few 

 attaining nearly the same length. The capsules examined were from 

 tufts gathered on the 3rd of May, 1879 ; they appeared to have just 

 shed their lids, all the other capsules (about 93 per cent.) still having 

 them on, their beaks being oblique in dried specimens. I also 

 examined capsules collected in March, 1878, but these appeared to be 

 the fruits of 1877, as the peristome had almost vanished. 



The above specimens were sent to me by Mr. E. M. Holmes, who 

 had collected them at West Hoathly, Sussex, and Tunbridge Wells 

 respectively, therefore this note records (if Mr. Holmes has not 

 recorded them before) two new localities for a very rare moss, and 

 Mr. Hobkirk's foot-note as to localities requires alteration. As I had 

 very little material to work upon, I hope some one having a plentiful 

 supply will also examine a number of specimens, and report the 

 result. Mr. Hobkirk interestingly remarks that Wilson's description 

 and figure disagree, and that he also finds Cheshire specimens sustain 

 Boulay's remarks : my present opinion is, that the inner processes 

 vary in length in different examples, and are somewhat irregular even 

 in the same specimens. My examples seem to indicate a different 

 time for mature fruit than March, which is given by Schimper and 

 Mr. Hobkirk. 



Mr. Lees states, in a former number, the localities known for 

 JEurhyncliium striatulum. To these I can add Wormhill, Derby- 

 shire, where I gathered it in May, and Plymouth, where Mr. Holmes 

 got it years ago. I also have specimens gathered at Cleveland, 

 Bristol. Whether this locality be in Somersetshire or Gloucester- 

 shire I know not; but if in the latter, it makes another locality. I 

 have specimens from Muggendorf, Oberfranken (Arnold) and from 

 near Baden (Juratzka). 



