466 
NEW ARRANGEMENT OF 
still against its being retained as a generic character, is, 
that a similar circumstance exists, in a less degree, in recent 
specimens of Dissodon Splachnoides ( Weissia SplacJmoides, 
Auct.) The lid is here very frequently adnate with the 
columella for a considerable time, and is so represented 
both by Dr Hooker in " Fl. Lond.'' and Dr Greville in 
" Crypt. Fl. it is therefore at least exactly intermediate, 
in this respect, between Hornschuch's Systilium and the 
rest of our Dissodontes. 
Two very remarkable points, common to all our species, 
are, the ovate form of the theca, and the obconicai apophy- 
sis: the latter tapering downwards from the base of the 
capsule, renders the shape of the whole more or less ob- 
ovate, and affords a fructification very different, at first 
sight, from that of Splachnum ; more especially when we 
take into consideration the equally remarkable fact, that, 
in Splachnum^ the apophysis is coloured, whereas, in Dis- 
sodon^ it is of the same colour as the capsule. Thus, not 
only in habit, but in every character of importance, do all 
the species of the latter genus agree. 
Hab. We are not aware that any of the species are pro- 
duced on any decomposing substances, as are most of the 
last genus. One is found among rocks ; another in a firm, 
wet sward, intermixed with grass and other plants ; a third 
in the crevices of rocks. As to the fourth, we do not cer- 
tainly know on what it was found growing. Three are pe- 
culiar to the alpine parts of Europe. The other occurs in 
South America. 
Hist. We have already mentioned that one of our spe- 
cies had previously constituted a genus under the name of 
Systyliurn, and that of another was formed Cyrtodon. As 
these names imply a peculiarity of structure not common 
