

184 THE NORTHERN MICROSCOPIST. 

most common being B. capillare, and B. cespiticium, the greater 
and lesser matted thorn-moss, found on walls, rocks, &c. ; also &. 
amtotinum, B. turbinatum, B. palleus, and B. bimum. ; 
Mnium hornum, the swan-necked thyme-thread-moss, very fre- 
quent on shady banks and in woods. JZ. undulatum and M. 
stellare, the long-leaved and the star-leaved thyme thread-moss ; the 
last being not found with fruit in Britain. 
The next interesting species to the moss student is the common 
cord-moss, /unaria hygrometrica, as the fructification of this 
moss has been carefully watched by our best authorities, both at 
home and abroad, and the whole plan of moss development 
mapped out. Fruiting from May to September, it is found every- 
where, perfectly fruited specimens having been picked up by the 
writer, within the last few days, from between the chinks of the 
flags in one of the busy streets of Salford. It is especially abundant 
on burned or carbonaceous soil, hence called by the French la 
Charbonniére. Named from Funis, a cord, the hygrometric action 
of its fruitstalks is very peculiar, the upper part twisting to the 
right when dry, the lower part in an opposite direction. Stems 
crowded, leaves broadly ovate—lanceolate, concave, entire, nerve 
reaching almost to apex. Capsule pyriform and furrowed when 
dry ; mouth very oblique, lid conical. Peristome double of 16 
outer teeth, and an inner membrane divided into 16 lanceolate 
processes ; monoicous. 
In the pleurocarpous division, the Feather-mosses, Wypnum 
denticulatum, F. giganteum, and HZ. cuspidatum, may be gathered 
on wet banks and marshes, and in streams and still-water Aontin- 
alts squamosa and F. antipyretica. 
WILLIAM STANLEY, 
POND-LIFE NEAR ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE. 
[* Manchester and the neighbouring towns the study of Pond-Life 
appears to be a very popular pursuit, and I venture to say there 
is a great deal of work being done in this direction, though but 
little is recorded, if we except the occasional exhibits at Soirées 
and other meetings. If all the finds were recorded in the 
NORTHERN Microscopist we should have a list which would com- 
pare very favorably with others from various parts of the country, 
and in order to commence such a list of Flora and Fauna, I send 
a few notes on the objects found near Ashton-under-Lyne. 
Starting from the Clarence Mills Bridge, and proceeding along 
the towing path of the Ashton canal, in the direction of Guide 


