16 INTRODUCTION 



especial care in this respect should be taken with red algae, as 

 they decompose quickly. The requisites for mounting are 

 blotters, pieces of muslin, two or more smooth boards, weights, 

 a basin, and several shallow dishes containing water. Fresh 

 water has a strong action on the color and substance of seaweeds, 

 and specimens should not be left in it for any length of time. 



Lift a specimen from the general collection, and in a basin of 

 deep water carefully wash off all superfluous matter ; then place 

 it in shallow water and spread it out, trimming it judiciously, so 

 that when mounted it will not be too thick and the characteris- 

 tics be hidden. Specimens are more interesting and their species 

 more easily determined when laid out rather thin, showing their 

 branching and fruit. After the specimen is thus prepared, place 

 it in a second shallow dish of water. It should now be perfectly 

 clean. Float it out into the desired position, spreading it well, 

 letting some parts show the details of the branching, and other 

 parts the general natural effect of the mass. Run under it a 

 rather heavy sheet of white paper, and lift it carefully from the 

 water. If raised from the center, it is easier to let the water 

 subside evenly and gradually without disarranging the parts. 

 Some collectors find it better to float the specimen in water deep 

 enough to allow the left hand to be placed under the sheet to 

 raise it. Lay the sheet on a plate, and with a needle or forceps 

 rearrange any of the delicate parts which have fallen together. 

 A few drops of water placed on any portion will usually be suffi- 

 cient to enable one to separate the branchlets or ultimate ramifi- 

 cations. A magnifying-glass will be useful in this work. 



Cover a blotter with mounted specimens, spread over them a 

 piece of cotton cloth, and on this place another blotter, upon 

 which lay more mounted specimens and a cloth. Proceed in this 

 way until all the specimens are used. Lay the pile of blotters 

 between boards, and on them place the weights. The weights 

 should not be very heavy. Judgment must be used in assorting 

 the specimens, those that are fine being placed together. Those 

 that are coarse and likely to indent the blotters should be placed 

 between separate boards. In this way a flat surface and an even 

 pressure will be obtained. The blotters and cloths should be 



