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For example: the slip being so arranged that the left hand 1-1000th line corresponds accurately with one of those on the eyepiece, suppose that the 5th line of the eye-piece corresponds with the 9th 1-1000th line from the left on the slip. Hence five divisions of the eye-piece = 9-1000ths or 1 division = 9-500ths = 1-555th of an inch. In this manner the actual value of one division of the eye-piece for each power should he registered once for all: it is then the work of a moment to record the actual dimensions of any object under examination.
If such records were kept systematically by observers, a comparison of their observations would go far to facilitate a harmonious classification of a huge and beautiful tribe of plants, the bibliography of which is at present most unsatisfactory, and has suffered grievously from a needless multiplication of supposed species, consequent upon imperfect observations still more imperfectly recorded.
The object of this paper will he amply fulfilled if it induces some of the Naturalists of the Midland counties to engage in the study of these minute organisms, and to do their share towards elucidating the many points in their physiology which are still obscure.
On the Study of the Mosses.—II.
By James E. Bagnall.
In my last paper (page 59) the material and apparatus required for the collecting and study of these plants were treated of. In the present I purpose giving some account of the development of Mosses.
Mosses are cellular plants, having distinct stems, leaves, and roots, the Sphagnums or bog-mosses are exceptional, as they do not possess roots;) they have a capsular fruit, and are developed from spores, (seed-like contents of ripe capsule, Plate IV., fig. 1.) or geminæ, (cellular bodies capable of becoming plants, fig. 2d.)
Description of Figures.—Plate IV.
- 1.—Spores of moss.
- 2—Gemmiform state of Autocomnion, a stem, b stalk, c gemmæ, d gemma detached and magnified.
- 3.—A protonema, b b young moss plants.
- 4.—Species of Pottia, to show lateral fruited moss, a stem, b fruitstalk, c capsule, d conical lid.
- 5.—Species of Hypnum, to show lateral fruited moss, a fruitstalk, b capsules.
- 6.—Leaf of Hypnum, to show nerve, a nerve, b margin.
- 7.—Male flower of moss, a Antheridium, throwing off a number of Antherozoids c, bb paraphyses.
- 8.—Anutheridium of Sphagnum.
- 9—Archegonium of moss, a neck, b pear shaped body, c germ cell, d canal.
- 10.—Fruit rudiment, a calyptra, b rudimentary fruitstalk. c vaginula.
- 11—Indeshiscent capsule of Phascem, a capsule, b fruitstalk, c vaginula.
- 12.—Simple peristome of Tetraphts, a conical operculum,b perisbome, c cupartle.
- 13.—Strumose capsule of Dicranum jalcatum, a rostrate operculum, b struma.
- 14.—Capsule of Splachnum, a operculum, b capsule, c apophysis.
- 15.—Prosenchymatouscells from leaf of Bryum.
- 16.—Parenelrymatous cells from leaf of Pottia.
- 17.—Inflated dimidiate calyptra of Funaria.
- 18.—Diminiate calyptra of Tortula.
- 19.—Capsule of Andrecca, dehiscing by valves a a.
- 20.—Part of double peristome of Hypnum, a inner peristome, b outer peristome.
- 21.—Capsule of Polytrichum, a capsule, b peristome, c diaphragm.