TALBOT859

Dear Henry,

I fear you will exclaim against me for interrupting your studies at this interesting moment, particularly as I have no cause for the timing on such an interruption beyond a mossy one – I will however not ask more than that you will imprint M^r. Hooker’s ¹ direction, or find it out for me, if he is not a person who will take a communication from a Lady he does not know as an affront, I mean boldly to write to him & beg to be enlightened about a moss which appears to me entirely new, I found it growing upon or among some Sphagni from Somerton. It resembles this [illustration] when magnified, <illustration> natural size the latter, the long hairs like leaves are quite white & whole plant Glaucous, the Capsule oblong pear shaped with an evident apophy^sis – as far as I can see the speculum is conical & persistent, it appears to have a sort of Calyptra beaked in a most extra-ordinary way, almost as long as the fruit stalk itself – from this description you will be able to judge whether I am right in considering this a nondescript moss, as far as our English botany goes – with the foreign muscology I am utterly unacquainted – If M^r. Hooker takes this application well I have several other specimens which I should like to ask about – of the particular one I have been describing I have very little not above a dozen capsules, & being so minute I am afraid to send them travelling in a letter – I have long had a hankering to get acquainted with M^r. H & shall be glad if this proves an opportunity – when you have a moment to spare do answer me –

Y^rs truly
A. M. Murray