-such as we now find them, with their peculiar organs of reproduction, they had the power of increasing themselves by a much more simple method; namely, by gemmation, or budding. A few of them still retain this mode of reproduction. Leucodon sciurioides is one of the best examples, and an abundant species on old trees and walls, but is very rarely observed in fruit. But this mode of reproduction is not confined to the mosses; for the hepatica and lichens also produce gemmæ, or little analagous bodies, which answer the same purpose. Some few Phanerogams also transmit

their species by similar means.

Linnæus called the mosses, lichens, and ferns, and their allies, "Cryptogams," or flowerless plants, and this is true in the general sense. At the same time, some few of the mosses of our own country approximate very closely, in the male sex, both in the colouration and the arrangement of the flower-like organs, to the true flower-bearing plants. These apparent flowers are, however, destitute of stamens and pistils, but are furnished instead with spermatozoids, curious little active bodies. The genus Polytrichum, so abundant on our heaths, furnishes a good example of these moss flowers, as from the size of the plants the flowers are rendered conspicuous. Another very good example will be found in Bryum palustre, also an abundant species by the side of shallow ditches.

Mosses growing on trees are not only accidentally attached to them, but from observation I believe them to be, more or less, parasites; that is, they derive nourishment directly from the tree; for I find when that a tree with a thick clothing of moss on it is cut down the moss soon begins to wither, and at length dies.

Some of our most common species of mosses have a very

wide geographical range. They are apparently regulated in their distribution by the temperature more than the moisture; at the same time, the latter is most essential to their development. Thus Tortula muralis, perhaps the most abundant species on rocks and walls in this country, is met with in the Andes Chiliensis. Another species lately added to the Devon list by Mr. Brent, who discovered it near Tavistock, Tortula papillosa, is met with on the Andes Quitenses, at an elevation of 8500 feet; and of two of our most abundant bog mosses, Sphagnum acutifolium and S. cymbifolium, the first is found on the Andes Bogotenses, at 6000 feet; and the latter is found in Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Cuba, and on the Andes of Bogota, at from 7000 to 8000 feet.

There is an indescribable pleasure in meeting with these silent friends when rambling over distant lands which must be felt to be appreciated. Even the knowing their names brings to memory many happy reminiscences of days gone by. "George Eliot" says, on her first visit to Devonshire,* "I never before longed so much to know the names of things as during this visit to Ilfracombe. The desire is part of the tendency that is now constantly growing in me to escape from all vagueness and inaccuracy into the daylight of distinct, vivid ideas. The mere fact of naming an object tends to give definiteness to our conception of it."

In conclusion, the Moss Flora of Devon will, I think, compare fairly well with that of other counties. Thus the Flora of Aberdeen, by the late Professor Dickie, gives the habitats for 227 species; and the Moss Flora of the county of Sussex, investigated by one of the keenest of English bryologists, Mr. William Mitten, contains the names of 305 species, exclusive of varieties. Ours has been a gradually-growing quantity. Thus in the Natural History of Devon, by Dr. Turton and J. F. Kingston, only 31 species are enumerated, and seven species of Hepatica. In the Flora Devoniensis, by Messrs. Kingston and Jones, a decided advance had been made in the knowledge of our Cryptogamic Flora. The mosses in this publication reach the respectable number of 163 species and 26 varieties, and 30 species of Hepatica.

I have in the present list the pleasure of enumerating 302 species of mosses as now found indigenous to Devonshire, and 34 varieties, thus bringing up the list to 336. The number of Hepatica found to be indigenous in the same area is 73 species, making in all the respectable number of 409. At the same time I feel perfectly convinced that we have not exhausted this field of investigation, and I hope that our efforts to elucidate the Cryptogamic flora may prove a stimulus to other and younger hands. I feel confident

that they will never regret having taken up the study; for it is a health-giving pursuit out of doors, and takes people into lovely nooks and corners where perhaps they would never think of going, and thus miss many of the beauties and delights of this lovely county.

NOTE.

In the discussion which took place on the reading of this paper, a member of the Association (Dr. Shier) remarked that a formation similar to peat might, under peculiar and favourable *Life of George Eliot, v. i. p. 104.

circumstances, take place in the Tropics. In support of this view he mentioned the formation of what is called pegass in the colony of British Guiana, and made the following remarks:

"The coast lands of the colony of British Guiana consist of an extensive area of alluvial deposit. This tract, extending along the entire coast, and from ten to fifteen miles inland, is to a great extent under the level of high-water of spring tides. Of this land only a narrow strip is as yet under cultivation. The estates, laid out in narrow parallelograms, are protected on the seaboard by dams from the influx of the ocean, and landward by dams to exclude the water accumulation in the savannah behind in the rainy reason. When these lands were first brought under cultivation they were covered with a layer of black vegetable matter resembling peat, and known in the colony under the name of pegass. From continuous cropping for more than a century this peaty layer has become exhausted, except in the black lands of some of the estates, where it may still be traced.

"In the extensive savannah behind the estates the surface (intersected by occasional sand reefs) bears a luxuriant vegetation of reeds, grasses, ferns, &c., and is flooded during the rainy seasons, and exposed to a tropical sun during the rest of the year. Here are the conditions of rapid growth, and equally rapid decay. From the decay of plant life the pegass is formed, extending over a large area, and of considerable thickness. After protracted drought fires have frequently occurred in the savannah, raging for weeks together, and consuming the upper layers of the pegass over extensive

areas.

"The rivers (called creeks in the colony) which carry off the savannah water to the sea are dark in colour from vegetaable matter held in solution, like the streams in this country which carry off the waters from peaty districts."

In his First Report on Thorough Drainage, published January, 1847, the late Dr. John Shier, agricultural chemist to the colony, says, in describing the soils of the colony, that pegass may be considered as tropical peat.

*

This word is probably the Portuguese "pegar-se," to stick, to adhere, to unite, by its tenacity, viscosity, or adhesive quality.

CATALOGUE.

WITH NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

English Botany. 1803.

1829.

Muscologia Britannica. Hooker, W. J.; Taylor, T. 1818.
Muscologia Hibernica. Brightwell, T. 1804.
Musci Britannici. Fasciculi, 1, 2. Dr. Greville. 1819-20.
Flora Devoniensis. Jones, J. P.; Kingston, J.
British Mosses: Their Homes, &c. Tripp, F. E.
Mosses of Devon and Cornwall.
Marquand, E. D., in lit. 1884.

1868.

Holmes, E. M.; Brent, Francis, N.D.

Greville, R. K., Scottish Cryptogamic Flora. 1823.

Carrington, N. T., Dartmoor: List of Mosses. 1826.

Braithwaite, R. M. D. British Moss Flora. 1880-1885.

Musci Ex Herbarium. W. Gardiner, Dundee.

The Fenlands, Past and Present. Miller, T. H.; Skertchly, S. B. J. 1878.
Berkley, Rev. M. J., Handbook of British Mosses,

Family, PLEUROCARPI, Bridel.

1863.

Order, FONTINALEI, Bruch. and Schimper.

GENUS, FONTINALIS, Dillenius.

ANTIPYRETICA, Linn.

Eng. Bot. t. 359; Hook. and Wils. t. 22.

In most of the Devon streams. Very fine in a stream in Bagtor Wood; fronds two feet or more long. It appears to prefer the shade of trees.

SQUARROSA, Dill.

Eng. Bot. t. 1861; Hook. and Wils. t. 22; Berk. Hdbk. t. 2, f. 1. In the Exe, attached to the weirs.

Order, CRYPTOTHECII, Bruch. and Schimper.

HETEROMALLA, Brid.

GENUS, CRYPHEA, Mohr.

Eng. Bot. 1180; Hook. and Wils. t. 22; Berk. Hdbk. t. 3, f. 3. On old trees in exposed places, and on Blackstone Rock and the tors of Dartmoor.

Var. B. At the base of trees, and on rocks by the side of streams; frequent. A larger and stouter form than the type.

Order, HOOKEREI, Bruch. and Schimper.

LUCENS, Smith.

GENUS, HOOKERIA, Smith.

Eng. Bot. t. 1902; Hook. and Wils. t. 27; Berk. Hdbk. t. 3, f. 5. Frequent on the banks of streams, and on dripping rocks in shady places. Banks of the Tavy, Exwick (wet rock), near Exeter; fruit in spring.-E. P. Cornwood, Lydford, Mount Edgcumbe.-Messrs. Holmes and Brent.

PUMILA, Hedw.

Order, NECKEREI, Montagne.

GENUS, NECKERA, Hedwig.

Eng. Bot. t. 1443; Hook. and Wils. t. 22; Berk. Hdbk. t. 4, f. 3. Generally distributed. Parsons Wood, Meavy. Stoke Wood, near Exeter; very rare in fruit. Shaugh Bridge (in fruit), Cornwood, Barrow Tor Waterfall.-Mr. Brent. CRISPA, Hedw.

Eng. Bot. t. 617; Hook. and Wils. t. 22; Berk. Hdbk. t. 4, f. 2. One of the most beautiful of mosses. Grows very fine in the rifts in limestone rocks. Torquay; in fruit.—E. P. Plymouth, Chudleigh, Dunsford, Ugbrooke Park; fruit. rare.-Flora Devon. Near Plymouth; in fruit.

COMPLANATA, Bruch. and Schimp.

Eng. Bot. t. 1492; Hook. and Wils. t. 26; Berk. Hdbk. t. 4, f. 1. On trees, common; fruit rare. Elburton. Mr. Holmes. Near Ashburton, Fingle Bridge, Chudleigh Rocks, and Chagford; in fruit.-Mr. Marquand. Abundant on the stone walls and hedges on Dartmoor, but rarely in fruit.-E. P.

GENUS, HOMALIA, Bridel.

TRICHOMANOIDES, Bruch, and Schimp.

Eng. Bot. 1493; Hook. and Wils. t. 24; Berk. Hdbk. t. 4, f. 5. Lydford Fall.-Dr. Greville. Bagtor Wood.-Flora Devon. Shady rocks; common.-E. P. Holne Bridge.-Mr. Marquand.

Order, HYPNEI, Bruch. and Schimper.

LUTESCENS, Dill.

GENUS, HYPNUM, Dillenius.

Eng. Bot. t. 1301; Hook. and Wils. t. 25; Berk. Hdbk. t. 5, f. 2. On banks and trees; frequent.-Flora Devon. Chudleigh, Torquay, &c.; rarely in fruit.-E. P.

Haldon,