( m ) 
ance of plates, and afterwards inveftigated by 
the agreeable amufement of microfcopic ob- 
fervations. Before the parts of fructification are 
protruded, they may be feen by the affiftance 
of powerful magnifiers enclofed within thofe 
fmall buds, which terminate the leaves of 
molfes, and have the appearance of being only 
a continuation of them. Hedwig difcovered, 
that the leaves, or fcales, compofing thefc 
buds, differed materially from the leaves of the 
plant, and conliders them as true involucres to 
the parts of fructification. He has alfo ob- 
ferved, that in the capfule-bearing mofles, 
which have their cones fituated towards their 
extremities, the leaves adjoining the fruit-ftalk 
are much more beautiful than thcfe of the 
Hems. Sometimes the inner leaves become 
gradually fmaller, and thofe neareft the fructi- 
fication fo very minute as to make it impoffible 
to take them away without a microfcope. 
Thefe involucres, like the calyxes of many 
other well-known plants, grow larger as the 
capfules advance towards maturity. Hedwig 
gives fo minute and particular an account of 
both the ftamen and feed-bearing flowers of 
the whole family of mofles, that, if he has 
pot been deceived in his refearches, we may 
N 3 expect 
