( i88 ) 
loft ; it mould, therefore, not be too haflily 
concluded that it did not refide in thefe fila- 
ments becaufe young plants are not obtained 
from them; or if the capful es are fowed, 
■while their covers remain, and give no pro- 
duce, it cannot be decided that they were 
incapable of doing fo, as they might not be 
in a ftate fufflciently mature. 
The beautiful and curious ftruclure of the 
capfules of the poly'trichum fubrotundum 
are well worthy of the trouble of inveftiga- 
tion, particularly as Mr. Curtis has found 
their peculiar conftruclion to be a conftant 
character belonging to the genus, fo far as he 
examined thofe fpecies which he could procureo 
The capfules of moffes in general have only 
one veil or calyptre ; in this genus there are 
two within the w T oolly calyptre of the poly'tri- 
chum, which has the appearance of a little 
diflafT covered with flax. He found a mem- 
branous mining fubftance, clofely connected 
by it's top to the infide of the w T oolly one, 
which is peculiar to this genus, but which 
k was fcarcely vifible, except by totally inverting 
it ; by doing fo, it is vifible to the naked eye. 
This inner calyptre differs very little from 
that of other moiTes j at firfl it wholly liir- 
rounds 
