THE GENERA OF MOSSES. 
59 
ventes decedit." Weber and Mohr say, " Operculum ab 
apice fissum in lacinias revolvendo-aufuges."*' Schkuhr 
positively denies this structure; and Bridel, in his last 
work, " Methodus nova Musco^um," fully agreeing with 
that author, observes at some length, — " Schkuheius 
acerrimus muscorum investigator e soli veritati studens, 
Hedwigium graviter erravisse in observatione, descrip- 
tione et adumbratione hujusce musci opercuhs, nos 
edocuit. Hedwigius nempe illiis striis tenerrimis a cen- 
tro ad perisphaeriam radiantibus ornatum esse, nec inte- 
grum sed de summitate in lacinias irregulares illico sese 
revolventes ac delabentes (quod casu semel fieri potuit) 
discedere affirmat. Tanta auctoritate moti Weberus 
MoHRUsque, imo idem se observasse dictitantes novum ge- 
nus ScMstostega a fisso operculo, dictum effinxerunt. 
ScHKUHRius autem diu et pertinaciter hujusce musci cap- 
sulam percontatus operculum nec aliter reticulatum nec 
alio pacto quam in cieteris musci s abscedens invenit, quam- 
vis valde tenerum fugaxque esse fateatur. Genus igitur 
ScMstostega natura repudiat ipsa, et nomen illud in Mus- 
cologia non aliter quam Trentepohlia remanebit, nempe, 
argumenti instar optimos observatores facile in errorem de- 
labi, si naturam paulo segnius aut mente jam prseoccupata 
scrutantur." 
Notwithstanding the high authority of Schkuhr, and 
Bridel's opinion of him, and we are led to believe that 
ScHw^GRiCHEN now agrees with them on that point, we 
certainly cannot suppose that Hfd wig's description of the 
laciniated operculum originated wholly in imagination. 
Mr TozER, who has examined this part very attentively, 
informs us, that one, which he placed under the microscope, 
split, on being touched, into many segments radiating from 
the circumference to the centre ; which, though it contra- 
dicts Hed wig's character, " de summitate in lacinias,"" Sic, 
