THE GENERA OF MOSSES. 
443 
Obs. So strongly and so conspicuously do the individuals 
composing this well-marked group resemble each other, 
not only in external habit, but also, for the most part, in 
intimate structure, that it is extremely difficult to establish 
genera, or subgenera, referable to it, upon well-grounded 
characters. Various ones have been proposed by the most 
eminent botanists, as, in the progress of their examinations, 
they have detected different situations, arrangements or 
directions, of the teeth of the peristome, or some other appa- 
rent peculiarity connected with the fructification. Thus we 
have Jplodon* of Brown, in the Appendix to Parry''s first 
voyage ; also Cyrtodonf of the same author, proposed in 
the observations under Aplodon in the same work ; both of 
which are removed from S'plachnicm. Mr Brown has also 
suggested that Splachnum Froelichimium and S. Wulfenia- 
num might with propriety form a subgenus, on account of 
their inclined capsule and erect teeth. 
In the present paper we have carefully examined almost 
every recorded species and variety in the Order; and 
though we do not pretend to any original discovery, we 
have endeavoured, by generalizing our observations upon 
well-grounded data, to establish our genera on what we con- 
ceive to be more tenable, and even more natural, characters. 
The whole has been done under the highest respect for the 
talents of those able botanists and philosophers who have 
conferred additional importance on muscology, by devoting 
their time and knowledge to its illustration. 
* This genus was formed to receive a single species, the Splachnum 
Wormskioldii of Hornemann. 
This genus is composed only of Weissia Splachnoidcs of Thunberg 
and of SCHW^GRICHEN. 
