Miscellaneous. 429 



spores, which in other individuals of the family are simple, divided cru- 

 cially into four distinct spores, precisely as in Floridece. The family 

 then of Zoospermece, like the two others, exhibits this peculiarity." 



The Alga of course belongs to a new genus, and Dr. Montague 

 has in consequence dedicated it to Mr. G. H. K. Thwaites, who has 

 facilitated the study of Algae so much by his admirable mode of pre- 

 paring specimens. M. J. B. — From a Letter presented to the French 

 Academy, October 20, 1845. 



HASSALl's * FRESHWATER ALGJB.* 



To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. 



Gentlemen, — I beg to call your attention to an omission in the 

 preface of the ' History of the British Freshwater Algae,' of which 

 I was not conscious until the work was placed in my hands ready 

 bound, and which I much regret. 



In making my acknowledgments to those gentlemen who kindly 

 afforded me assistance in the preparation of the work, I have, most 

 unfortunately and unaccountably, omitted all reference to the re- 

 spected name of Mr. Dillwyn, one of the earliest and most success- 

 ful cultivators of a knowledge of the Algae. 



In a future issue of the book I will take care that this error be rec- 

 tified, and in the meantime I should feel obliged by your insertion 

 of these few lines in explanation of what might seem a strange omis- 

 sion to many, and to Mr. Dillwyn a slight, the commission of which 

 never entered into my thoughts. 



I remain. Gentlemen, your very obedient servant, 



Arthur H. Hassall. 



Norland Villa, Addison Road North, Sept. 10, 1845. 



NATURAL HISTORY IN IRELAND. 



Among the signs of good times for natural history, one of the 

 most promising is the encouragement given to that science in the 

 University of Dublin, and which contrasts favourably with the apathy, 

 and even opposition shown towards it by Oxford and Cambridge, and 

 the indifference displayed by the senators of the University of London, 

 a body too fondly attached to the traditions of the older universities. 

 In a printed notice of the present state of the natural-history collec- 

 tions in Trinity College, Dublin, now under the charge of one of the 

 first among British zoologists, Mr. Robert Ball, we find that the uni- 

 versity professors give courses of lectures, free to the public, on com- 

 parative anatomy, botany, mineralogy and geology, besides demon- 

 strations in their respective departments by the keepers of the bota- 

 nical and zoological collections. When we read the name of Harrisoa 

 in connexion with comparative anatomy, of All man and Harvey with 

 botany, of Ball with zoology, and of Apjohn and Oldham with mine- 

 ralogy and geology, it is very evident that Dublin possesses the only 

 university in the British empire which can boast of a complete school 

 of natural history, conducted by competent professors and/ree/y open 

 to all who wish to learn. Honour, then, to the Provost, Fellows and 

 Professors of Trinity College ! Their museums, too, are thrown open 



