OF THE MOSSES AND THEIR ALLIES. 
145 
examine the neighbourhood (especially where it varies a 
little in elevation or dampness) for male plants. ‘ Practice 
makes perfect,’ and though frequent disappointments may 
occur, success will follow, in a greater or less degree, as he 
applies himself more vigorously to his work. 
In gathering the Hepaticse it is indispensable to secure 
the organs of fructification : these are of simpler structure 
and lower organisation than in the Mosses, consisting of 
capsules either imbedded in the thick cellular frond (the 
Iticcise), or elevated on footstalks (Marchantia, Junger- 
mannia, &c.), but in either case unprovided with the 
calyptra and operculum, the hoods which distinguish and 
protect the spore cases of the true Mosses. When then the 
latter plants are placed in the bag or vasculum, precautions 
must be taken against losing the hoods, as they are of 
great service in the elucidation of genera, and unhappily 
they are very apt to drop off— [I always myself * bottle ’ a 
few small specimens, the enclosed moisture preventing the 
separation of the calyptra from the theca. The leaves too 
are kept fresh and the plants generally are saved from 
rubbing and consequent mutilation. This refers more 
particularly to the Jungermannise, the extreme delicacy of 
whose fruit, and stem, and leaves demand most tender 
treatment. The ‘ bottling * also ensures a specimen being 
ready for examination immediately on returning home ; 
though this is by no means essential, as all the Moss tribe 
speedily recover their plumpness and general appearance, 
on being immersed in water, after they have been lone: 
dried.— Ed.] 6 
They are very easily prepared for the herbarium, all 
that is necessary being to separate them into convenient 
portions, pick out all foreign bodies (such as fragments of 
leaves, &c.), place them between blotting-paper, and sub- 
mit them to the press. The weights employed must be 
of the lightest, as otherwise the natural appearance of the 
plants are distorted. The true Mosses are usually divided 
into two chief sections — the Acrocarpi, or those in which 
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