172 



HAKDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



the back of the papers, and then, after the usua 

 time for drying and pressing, the most obstinate 

 seaweed will be found adhering perfectly to the 

 paper, and will remain so permanently. 



One more difficulty must be referred to for the 

 benefit of young beginners, who, in mounting some 

 of the Larainaria and that peculiar olive weed 

 called Himanthalia lorea, may wish to preserve the 

 thick-branching roots and stems. Pirst wash the 

 roots as clean as possible, and then, with a sharp 

 penknife, make a clean cutting horizontally of the 

 whole root and some little distance up the thick 

 round stem ; then, after having removed the cut 

 portions, place the inner surface of the root and 

 stem on the paper, and the gelatinous matter which 

 oozes from the plant will cause the roots to adhere 

 firmly to the paper, and in drying, the usual olive 

 tint of the various species of Laminaria will be 

 finely preserved. Some botanists employ a mixture 

 made of isinglass, dissolved in alcohol, to fix some 

 of the horny or robust species on paper ; but if gum 

 is made use of, it is better to employ gum traga- 

 canth than gum - arable, because, in drying, the 

 former has none of that objectionable glare which is 

 peculiar to gum-arabic. 



Fig. 109. Seaweed Press. 



As regards the best method of pressing seaweeds, 

 I think I can hardly do better than refer my 

 readers to the above figure of a Seaweed Press, 

 which I invented for myself many years ago, in 

 which I have pressed many thousands of beautiful 

 seaweeds. Almost any degree of pressure can be 

 obtained in it : first, by the thumb-screws on the 

 iron rods at each corner, and, finally, by means of 

 the clatep which is strapped on the top of the 

 press. Any intelligent cabinet - maker or iron- 



monger could provide such a press from an inspec- 

 tion of the figure, the cost, of course, varying with 

 the dimensions and the number of boards. 



With respect to localities favourable to seaweed- 

 gathering, I may specially mention the south coast 

 of Devon ; from Exmouth, where Bnjopsis and 

 Padina pavoma grow in perfection, to Torquay and 

 the coves of Torbay, and down the coast to Ply- 

 mouth, Cawsand Bay, and finally Whitsand Bay, 

 the " happy hunting-grounds " of the enthusiastic 

 algologist. On the north-east coast, Filey and 

 Whitby must be mentioned, as well as the shores 

 upwards from Tynemouth to Whitley. Peterhead is 

 also a good locality, the rare Edocarpus Mertemii, 

 and Callithamnion jloccomm being found there in 

 abundance. Other favourable stations in Scotland, 

 well known to me, are Lamlash Bay and Whiting 

 Bay ; nor must the Isle of Wight be forgotten, for 

 in the rock pools, at Shanklin especially, the most 

 magnificent form of Padina pavonia may be found 

 growing during the summer months in the utmost 

 profusion. 



In conclusion, I beg leave to say to those of my 

 readers who, in the pursuit of algological know- 

 ledge, may chance to find themselves in an unex- 

 pected difficulty, it will give me pleasure to afford 

 them information and any assistance in my power. 



Templestowe, Torquay. 



SKETCHES IN THE WEST OF IRELAND. 



By G.VH. Kinaiian. 



The Neighboukhood of Gokt. 



G\ ORT is situated on a plateau of limestone, 

 ^ bounded on the west by the hills of Burren, 

 and on the east by the mountain group called 

 Slieve-Aughta, the latter being composed of 

 Cambro-silurian rocks, capped in places by the 

 lower carboniferous conglomerate, grits, and sand- 

 stones (commonly called old red sandstone), forming 

 table-topped hills ; moreover, the latter rocks and 

 their accompanying shales are banked against 

 their flanks. The Cambro-silurian black shales at 

 Belvoir are remarkably rich in well-preserved grap- 

 tolites. 



The limestone plain may be noted on account of 

 its system of subterranean rivers. A large infall 

 of water flows from Slieve-Aughta into loughs 

 Cooter and Coole, and the connection between the 

 latter and Galway Bay— a distance of five miles — to 

 the nearest point at Kinvarra, is underground ; 

 while over a large portion of the plain it is impos- 

 sible to say whether the drainage is south-west- 

 ward through the river Furgus to the Shannon, or 

 north-westward to Galway Bay. 



The Lough Cooter catchment basin includes a 

 considerable portion of Slieve-Aughta, while from 



