PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 81 



I imagine that, from these spores on our Irish specimens, the exotic ones have 

 them also. By some it has been doubted if the plants, taken at Lough Foyle, are 

 indigenous to that coast, but have supposed them to be stray waifs, brought from 

 more temperate regions by tides or currents. I cannot subscribe to such ideas, 

 from the fact of Mr. Sawed having found fronds of his Desmarestia in tolerable 

 abundance during a large portion of last year (1853), even up to near Christmas, 

 and as Desmarestia undergoes decomposition so very rapidly when dead, I cannot 

 believe it possible those fronds, which we see here in excellent preservation, could 

 have been knocking about on the ocean for months. I, therefore, conclude they 

 grew not far from the spot where Mr. Sawers found them. In conclusion, I would 

 wish to remark on the doubt implied in Dr. Montague's paper as to the alga in ques- 

 tion being a Desmarestia. The structure certainly agrees with that of ligulata. As 

 my specimens were quite dry when they reached me, I could not determine if the 

 single-jointed tube, mentioned by Dr Harvey, as traversing the fronds, exists in 

 pinnatinervia. Should it be found there, I have no doubt that it Avill appear in 

 the nervures and midrib. Altogether, the question is one of much interest to algo- 

 logists, and I look forward, with expectation, that Dr. Harvey will investigate the 

 subject on his return, and clear up existing doubts. I think it very evident that if 

 the pinnatinervia be a Desmarestia, and if the tubercles I have observed on ligu- 

 lata be the true fruit, then Dr. Harvey will have to construct the genus anew, for 

 the diagnosis does not meet the existing facts. 



[Mr. Sanders gave very clear explanations of his several microscopical examina- 

 tions, which he illustrated by handsomely -coloured diagrams. He was clearly of 

 opinion that he had detected the spores indicative of a true state of fructification.] 



The Chairman said that the society was much indebted to Mr. Sanders for the 

 very interesting statement he had given — interesting, because Mr. Sanders had 

 brought forward an investigation which had hitherto escaped the notice of the 

 scientific. He would be happy to hear any remarks on Mr. Sanders's views. 



Mr. Andrews said that it would be difficult to comment on the excellent state- 

 ment made by Mr. Sanders, unless the same opportunities of investigation had been 

 afforded, that Mr. Sanders so perseveringly followed out. The highest credit was 

 due to Mr. Sanders in submitting views which had not been noticed by any autho- 

 rity in algology. Statements, so put forward, had frequently influenced fuller 

 inquiries, and which often resulted in the formation of new alliances or genera. In 

 a notice of the discovery, in Cork harbour, by Mr. Isaac Carroll, of Stcnogramme 

 interrupta, Dr. Harvey, in this society, gave a review of the several discoveries and 

 wide distribution of that plant. This genus was established by Dr. Harvey ; 

 Agardh, who had constituted it a Delesseria, having mistaken the linear concep- 

 tacle for a nerve. Many of our most commonly distributed lichens and mosses are 

 considered a rarity w hen found in fruit, and several species of the most frequent 

 occurrence have never been known to fruit in the British Isles. Desmarestia ligu- 

 lata is a plant of common occurrence. On the west coast it may be found in the 

 tide pools of low water mark, and to the greatest depth that algae exist. Mr. An- 

 drews trusts that Mr. Sanders may successfully establish the investigations which 

 he has so ably commenced. 



Dr. Kinahan next read the following paper : — 



ON THE INJURY DONE TO FRY IN FISH PONDS AND VIVARIA, BY THE SMOOTH- 

 TAILED STICKLEBACK. G. LEIURUS (CUV. AND VAL.). 



During a former session I had the honour to submit to your society some ob- 

 servations on the spawning of the above fish ; to-night I have occasion again to call 

 your attention to it with reference to a very different matter, the destruction it 

 causes among young fry, a subject of economic importance, since the breeding of 

 fish has become not only a fashionable amusement, but even an object of commer- 

 cial speculation. That the smooth-tailed stickleback, and, indeed, all the fresh- 

 water fish of that genus, are, when grown, most destructive to fry, even of fish much 

 larger than themselves — such as gudgeon, rudd, dace, minnow, trout, &c. — has 

 long been established by Baker and others, and any one anxious to verify it for 

 himseli need but to watch the shallows adjacent to the spawning beds, where the 



