HoBKiRK : How TO Examine a Moss. 



87 



On one of tlie islands the keeper (who resides during the season on 

 the Brownsman) knew of a nest of the sheldrake, in burrow, con- 

 taining thirteen eggs, which he did not wish to have disturbed. This 

 species only breeds occasionally on the islands, but many nest on the 

 extensive links of the mainland. 



From the above account it will be gathered that no less than four- 

 teen species breed annually on the Fames ; and occasionally two 

 others, the shag and the sheldrake. Formerly a few pairs of that 

 beautiful bird, the roseate tern, visited the group during the summer, 

 associating with the mob of commoner members of its genus, and 

 laying in their company ; but persecution has banished them from 

 their former haunts, and I am afraid a similar fate awaits the Sandwich 

 tern ; it can only be a question of time, for Mr. Hewitson some 

 twenty-five years ago, speaks of the "many hundreds" of eggs of 

 this species, on the Fames. I should now be almost afraid to describe 

 them as many tens. There can be no doubt that the Fames are most 

 unmercifully and openly robbed, to say nothing of the extensive 

 poaching which prevails. 



During the day we watched a pair of red-throated divers and 

 several gannets fishing off the islands, exhibiting a great contrast 

 in their modes of proceeding. The lithe forms of the divers dis- 

 appeared almost without rippling the surface, whilst the gannets 

 dropped like thunderbolts from a considerable height, pluL'ging into 

 the water amidst a cloud of spray. 



In conclusion, I think we may fairly venture to assert that a day 

 on the Fames is a veritable " multum in parvo for the lover of 

 Nature. 



Leeds, Dec. 17th, 1880. 



HOW TO EXAMINE A MOSS. 

 By C. p. Hobkirk, F.L.S, 

 (GontiQiued.) 



In our last paper, we left off with the split capsule, laid open on a 

 slide under the microscope, for the purpose of examining the teeth of the 

 peristome. Now, you will invariably find that w'hen there is a peristome 

 at all, whether single or double, the number of the teeth is always four 

 or a multiple of four, i.e., either 4, 16, 32, or 64. You will find that 

 our moss has sixteen of these teeth, but if you do not examine it 

 carefully you may be deceived, and suppose there a-re thircy-twOj 



