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On an Algal Form Growing in a Solution of Cupric Sulphate. 



By F. Kitton, Hon. F.R.M.S. 

 {Read April 28th, 1882.) 



Some six months ago I filled an " engraver's globe" with a 

 solution of sulphate of copper (afterwards described by me in 

 " Science Gossip ") ; the proportions were about 2 oz. of a saturated 

 solution to 40 oz. of water ; the latter was the water supplied by 

 the Chelsea Company. Before filling the globe I allowed the 

 mixture to remain for three days in a glass vessel, in order that the 

 sulphate of lime and other impurities might subside, and then care- 

 fully decanted it into the " globe," leaving about 1 oz. of turbid, 

 almost muddy deposit behind. In a short time the solution lost 

 its transparency, and little flocculent specks could be seen floating 

 about in it, when the globe was shaken ; I again poured the solution 

 into the glass vessel, leaving almost all the specks behind. The 

 cloudy appearance arose from a chalky (?) deposit upon the surface 

 of the glass, which I had some difficulty in removing. The solu- 

 tion in the glass was clear, with the exception of a few of the 

 " specks " floating about, and which I removed with a pipette. In 

 the course of a day or two I poured back the solution, and it 

 appeared perfectly transparent ; some six weeks afterwards I 

 noticed that many hundreds of these specks had again made their 

 appearance, and I now, for the first time examined them with the 

 microscope, and found that they were some species of Alga, 

 perhaps an imperfect state of Conferva rivularis. 



The specimen sent with this is mounted in the original solution. 



Journ. Q. M. 0., Series II., No. 3. k 



