230 DR. DICKIE OX ARCTIC SPECIES OF ALG.E. 



blglits. Of late years it has been mucli frequented in search of 

 whales ; and parties pass the Avinter with the view of capturing 

 these animals during the spring and early part of summer. The 

 Kikerton Islands near the head of the sound, and not far from 

 the most north-eastern part of its shore, are the headquarters of 

 the whalers. 



The rise of tide is much greater than in the main strait, being 

 reported as amounting to 30 feet, and forming a " bore," whereas 

 in the open strait it is 6 to 7 feet. 



The upper part of the sound abounds in animal life of all 

 kinds ; and some of the AI^/cb occur in great profusion, and of large 

 size. 



Mr. James Taylor, in medical charge of a whaling-vessel, dunng 

 a visit to the sound, at my request, made collections o^Algce, as 

 well as of otber Cryptogamia. A notice of his observations may 

 possess some interest, more especially because, so far as is known 

 to me, no collections have previously been brought from that 

 quarter. 



In the first place, I may note hex'e tlie results of some observa- 

 tions on temperatures of the air and of the sea at the surface, 

 from records made in the sound during the whole of August, and 

 from 1st to 9th of September, in 1861. The mean temperature of 

 the air during the forty days was 35°'5 P., that of the sea 32'°7 F. 

 These records were made when the ship was in the pack-ice : on 

 the land and in water near the shore the results would doubt- 

 less have been very different, especially at an earlier part of the 

 season. 



Series I. MELAXOSPEEME^E. 



I'UCACE^. 



Fuciis vesicidosus^ L. In great abundance, and varying much 

 in size— the smallest not exceeding two to three inches in length, 



narrow 



common. 



F. nodosus, L. The specimens are smaller and more slender 

 than the British form, and the receptacles, instead of ovate, are 



S2)licricaL 



SponoCIIKACEiE, 



Desmarestia aculeata, Linn, A slender form, 6 to 7 inches 

 long, and sparingly branched. 



