Among the aquatic Algx, we find a considerable number of species, which, by their tenuity and feathered appearance, have a considerable resemblance in aspect to the Mosses ; and some species and varieties have at different times received names expressive of this resem blance. One widely diffused species of Fucus, figured by Air. Turner in Hist. t. t 27, retains the name of F. musciformis. A variety of F. aculeatus, (Turn. t. 187.) was described by Limmus under the name of F. muscoides. To F. tenuissimus, (Turn. t. 80.) the name of muscoides has been given by NVulfen ; and to two dif ferent varieties of F. corneus, (Turn. t. 157.) the name of F. hypnoides has been given by two different celebrat ed writers. And wc possess sonic specimens of species of Confcrva, from good Herbaria, which had received, many years ago, the names of leskcoides, bryoidcs, mus coidcs, obviously on account of their resemblance to this species of family.
Uses of Mosses.
Though this title may at first extort a sarcastic smile from those who are more conversant with the writings of Pope and Akensicic, than with the pursuits of natural history; and though they may be disposed to ask, whe ther thc discussion uncler it should not be as short and conclusive as that in the chapter of Horrebow's IIistory of leelarrl, entitled," Concerning serpents," which states only, that no serpents are to be found in any part of the island ;—yet surely a moment's icflection should be suffi cient to furnish those readers with an answer to their own sarcasm. We are informed, by the Inspired Historian of the Creation, that God pronounced good every thing which he had made ; and surely nothing that the Deity has pronounced good, can he unworthy of the contemplation of man. Every physical research, when propetly conducted, must be, like Galen's treatise of anatomy, a Hymn to that Great Being by whom all things were at first lormed, and arc still upheld.
Perhaps, from the y cry minuteness, and apparent insig nificance, on a superficial glance, of the plants to be treat ed under this article, an argument may be found in fa vour of the study of them. It has been observed by a writer, equally eloquent and profound, that Man is placed 41: the middle between the two infinities—the infinitely great, and the infinitely little, both of which are equally incomprehensible to him.* Of these two extremes, it is perhaps the most useful to recall the attention frequently to the latter. The infinitely great forces itself upon our attention. The changes that occur in the universe, on
the great scale, can scarcely fail to occupy occasionally the thoughts of even the busiest, and the least reflecting; while they will be a favourite theme with those who have more leisure, and are blessed with a contemplative turn of mincl. But the infinitely little, and whatever ap proaches to it, is less obtrusive. It does not at first affect khe mind with a feeling of sublimity almost overpowel 'ing, like the former. On the contrary, we are apt to pass it without attending to it at all ; or to slight it as insig nificant, if it chance to catch our attention. Yet, not less than the great orbs revolving in the immensity of space, do objects, almost mocking human sense by thcir mi nuteness, furnish a field inexhaustible for scientific in vestigation ; and to the student of Final Causes, the mi nutest object furnishes a proof of design as convincing as the largest. In order to demonstrate those truths which form the basis of natural religion, Paley preferred 311 ex amination of the structure of the human body, to a sur vey of the universe ; and Boyle considered the eye of a fly as being to man a better proof of design than the sun himself, though the life and soul of our planet ; because we have better means of becoming acquainted with the minuter objects compared, than with the greater. Wher ever the adaptation of parts to the attainment of an end can be traced, the proof of design is complete; and he who could examine the nutrition, the gi owth, the regu lar conformation ; the provision made for the continua tion of the species, while all the individuals successively disappear, of even the minutest Phascum, without per ceiving in them proofs of intelligence, power, and good ness, would probably receive no more conviction from. the sublimest truths that astronomy can unfold.
This noblest use of scientific inquiry in general might be attained then, in the study of mosses, from the consi deration of their structure alone ; even although we werc unable to assign any purposes which they serve in the economy of nature, or any advantage derived by man or by the lower animals, from mosses in general, or from any particular member of the family. But purposes of utility subserved by mosses in every one of these points of view, have not escaped observation ; and it is our pur pose now to mention some or them, as a not unsuitable introduction to the details which arc afterwards to be given, in regard to structure and arrang-ement.