70 THE NORTHERN MICROSCOPIST. 


and from which I conclude that the main body or bell of the vorticella is com- 
posed of a comparatively solid substance, while the rim is soft and fleshy, if I 
may use sucha term. I further conclude that the most vital part of the vorti- 
cella is situated in its rim, because in every case the animal died immediately on 
its rim being eaten by the rotifer, while vorticellae continue to show signs of life 
for a long time after being crushed between two slips of glass and flattened toa 
considerable extent, but without special injury to their lip or rim. I am afraid 
my remarks are no novelty to most gentlemen present, and if my conclusions 
are erroneous I hope some more experienced microscopist will favour us with his 
opinion.—The proceedings concluded with the customary vote of thanks. 
MANCHESTER CRYPTOGAMIC SOCIETY.—At the last meeting of 
this Society, Mr. Thomas Brittain, in the chair, distributed several species of 
Lichens which he had recently collected, Parmelia aguilla being one of the 
species, in fruit. 
Mr. Stanley brought his microscope and exhibited slides of the two new 
LTepatics. 
Mr. Pearson exhibited specimens of an Hepatic new to the AZanchester Flora. 
Diplophyllum minutum (Dmrt) collected by Mr. G. A. Holt lately on Kinder 
Scout; also specimens of the rare Lzochlena lanceolata and Harpanthus scutatus, 
collected in Eskdale by Mr. B. Slater, and Stherocarpus terrestris, from Here- 
fordshire, collected by Mr. B. M. Watkins. 
Captain Cunliffe has recently made an excursion in the neighbourhood of 
Barmouth, averitable moss paradise in winter time ; amongst the mosses brought 
home and exhibited were specimens of the rare Campylostelium saxicola, 
Hypnum Schretbert, Lylocomium brevirostrum, and the rarely fruiting Didymodon 
cylindricus. Some of these were generously distributed by Mr. Cunliffe, with 
reference to the specimens of Didymodon exhibited. 
Mr. Cash read a short communication on its discovery and detection. He 
stated that the species was described as new by Hooker and Taylor in the 
Muscologia Britannica (Ed. 2, 1827) under the name of Wedssia tenutrostris, 
the figure (for which, as well as the description, Dr. Taylor was alone responsi- 
ble) was unfortunately bad, and contemporary bryologists disputed the right of 
Wetssta tenutrostrts to be considered a good species. Hooker himself did not 
believe in it. He was of opinion that the figure of the capsule, as it appears in 
the Muscologia, was drawn from Weissia curvirostra (Brid) = Didymodon 
rubellus (Roth) whilst Wilson imagined that Dr. Taylor had picked up some 
form of Zortula tortuosa. 
Dr. Taylor had found the moss at the foot of the Campsie Hills, near Glasgow, 
during an excursion with Hooker and Greville in or about the year 1826. 
When they came to examine their gatherings, this alone struck Dr. Taylor as 
something ‘‘rare.” The others, however, were sceptical, and ‘ did their utmost 
to demolish the pretensions of the plant to be considered distinct.” The con- 
troversy (or ‘‘ wrangle” as the Doctor himself called it in writing to Wilson) 
was both long and warm. 
Fourteen years or more after its discovery at Campsie, this moss was the 
subject of a long correspondence between Taylor and Wilson. Specimens 
found by the latter at Dolgelly, and by Dr. Taylor near Dunkerron, in Ireland, 
where he then lived, proved it to be specifically distinct : the controversy turned 
chiefly upon the generic characters. Dr. Taylor, whilst confessing that his 
figure of the peristome in the Muscologia Britannica was ‘‘ inapt,”’ still claimed 
it as a Werssia. Mr. Wilson, on the other hand, insisted upon its being referred 
to Didymodon, and, in support of his contention, sent Dr. Taylor dissections of 
his own Irish specimens, which, if they did not convince, threw the Doctor 
‘into such difficulties and such perplexity that he was not in a fit state for 
forming any decision.’ He added in the letter, from which we quote, ‘‘ It is a 
bewildering theme, which I had rather relinquish for the present.” 


