138 
NEW ARRANGEMENT OF 
coarctatis desumpta negligantur, fatendum est thecae struo- 
turam uniformem et constantem, foliorum formam per gra- 
dus intermedios sensim et absque salebra leviter immuta- 
tam, ramulorum denique dispositionem in Spliagno peculi- 
arem solemnemque unicam speciem in genere unico pro- 
mulgare videri. Non possumus tamen plures species non 
admittere potius ex habitu, colore, he. quam ex uUo cha- 
ractere firmo, constante genuinoque dignoscendas.'' 
In addition to the above, we have only to add, that we 
ourselves possess several additional connecting links between 
the varieties ; but that, for the present, we follow Hooker 
and Taylor * in keeping up the four species, S. ohtusi- 
folium, squarrosum, acutifolium, and cuspidatum, to some 
of which all the others (though sometimes, we confess, with 
diiEculty) may be referred : and these, if all are afterwards 
again reduced to S. palustre, will form the types of the 
varieties. 
Plate VII. 
Fig. 5. Theca of Sphagnum squarrosum, before it has 
emerged from the perichaetial leaves. Some 
of the perichaetial leaves are removed. The 
ragged vaginula is very evident, springing, 
from the receptacle; as also some abortive 
pistilla {Hedw.) 
6. Mature theca of a Sphagnum, showing the 
naked peristomium, and the vaginula and 
barren pistilla as before. 
7. Operculum. 
8. A young theca cut open, to show the columella. 
Muscologia Britannica, p, 4. 
