Page:Midland naturalist (IA midlandnaturalis01lond).pdf/236

 but experience will soon show that these characters vary in different species of Moss. The margin of the leaf, (6b.) is sometimes plane, at others formed of a double raw of cells and hence thickened, as in Tortula marginata; some cases entire, in others variously toothed. In some species, Weissia controversa, for instance, it is involute, (rolled over towards the upper surface;) in others revolute, (roiled over towards the lower surface,) as in Tortula revoluta, to be found on wall tops; or the leaf may be rolled upon itself from side ta side, or convolute, as in the leaves surrounding the base of the fruit-stalk of Tortula convoluta, and in some case as in Atrichum undulatum, the margin is undulated. The leat-surface is usually smooth, but in some species, such as Thuidium tamariscinum, it is covered with minute projections, and is termed papillose. The leaves vary in colour, being of every shade of green, in some cases reddish, in others brown, or again. as in Leucobryum glaucum, nearly white,

Mosses ave often termed flowerless plants, which is a misnomer, as both male and female flowers occur on these plants, and may readily be found in most species when the leafy stem has arrived at maturity. In many of our Mosses, as in the Bryums and Polytrichums, they occur as star-like bodies at the top of the stem; in others, such as the common Hypnum rutabulum, both male and female flowers may be found as bud-like bodies in the axils of the stem-leaves. In the bog-mosses or Sphagnums they occur in pendulous catkins, which are often tinged with red or brown,

If these flowers are dissected if will he seen that they consist of a number of leaves surrounding or enveloping the organs of reproduction, the Archoridia, (bodies which perform the function of an anther, 7a.) Tc. the male; or the Archegenia, (bodies which perform the function of a pistil or ovary, 9) i.e., the female reproductive bodies. The leaves surrounding the antheridia form what is termed the perigonium, (that which supports the male organ;) those surrounding the archegonia, form the perigynium, (that which surrounds the female organ.; The male flowers are sometimes developed in the axils of the ordinary leaves, and have no perigonium, as in Sphagnum.

The first few days of May were tolerably fine and clear, but on the 7th rain began to fall, and continued daily until the 29th, thus giving twenty-three consecutive days of rain! As one observer succinctly puts it, this downpour "spoilt the promise of April; damaged the crops, and put everybody out of temper."

—In remarks for April, read Swallow for Cuckoo at Kibworth on April 11th, Cuckoo did not appear there till May 2nd; very late.