168 F. KITTON ON DIATOMACEARUM DILLWYNII. 



an inch in length, and, to the unassisted eye, resemble decayed 

 vegetable matter. When entire, they gradually taper to a point, 

 and, as Miiller observes, bear considerable resemblance to the 

 antennas of a lobster, but I could never observe the appearance of 

 cylindricity in the figure given in it by that botanist. The disse- 

 piments are very conspicuous, and at these the filaments frequently 

 break, the parts remaining connected at only one extremity, which 

 when it repeatedly takes place, gives the plants so much the 

 appearance of floccnlosa as to make it somewhat doubtful whether 

 the species are distinct. The joints are very short, and appear 

 coloured towards each end by a green fluid, which, soon after the 

 plant is taken from the water and it approaches decay, collapses, 

 sometimes forming into small globular masses, and sometimes 

 disappearing entirely. 



(The statement that the filament tapers to a point is, as we 

 know, incorrect. This apparent tapering to a point was caused 

 either by a filament being gradually twisted until its edge wns 

 visible at one of the extremities, or two filaments were partially 

 superimposed, which would also cause the tapering appearance. Its 

 apparent resemblance to C. floccnlosa is not easily explained. 

 Dillwyn's own preparation does not indicate any resemblance to 

 that species in the attachment of the frustules to each other at the 

 angles. =Eitnotia ( Himantidium pectinate of authors). — F. K.) 



C. tenia? for mis. — C. filis simplicibus, compressis dilute viridibus 

 dissepimentis ; articulis diametro dimidio brevioribus, obsolete 

 variegatis demum refractis (" E. Bot.," tab. 1,833 J. 

 On Conjerva fucoides, Beachy Head. Mr. Borrer. 

 C. Biddulpldana. — C. filis simplicibus compressis, longitudina- 

 liter striatis, viridibus, dissepimentis solutis ; articulis quadratis. 

 transversim fasciales, sub-alternatim refractis (" E. Bot.," tab. 

 1,762). 



On marine algas, Southampton. Miss Biddulph. 

 This plant, which, as well as C. striatula, C. teniceformis, and 

 C. obliquata, is here introduced upon the authority of"E. 

 Botany," appears to be, as Dr. Smith observes, really an extra- 

 ordinary production, but it seems scarcely possible that all the 

 figures in that plate should belong to the same plant, or if they do, 

 does it not lead to a suspicion that the species of this family have 

 been unnecessarily multiplied by authors ? 



C. obliquata. — C. filis ramosis, compressis flexuosis fusco albi- 



