4 The Irish Naturalist. January, 



C. desmacantha in the same dark green unencrusted forms 

 as found in L. Kinny. The drag brought up immense 

 tresses of this plant some specimens measuring 15-23 

 inches in length growing in 5-6 feet of water, and having 

 the appearance of C. canescens, for which I mistook the 

 plant till Mr. Groves' microscope revealed its triplostychous 

 stems. It would be difficult to find more beautiful speci- 

 mens. But, still more interesting, the lake ^delded 

 specimens of the curious L. Shannagh Nitella, and also, 

 adhering to some draggings of C. fragilis, were to be 

 detected a few minute pieces of Nitella Nordstedtiana,'^ 

 H. and J. Groves. This plant is always too small to allow 

 of its collection by means of a drag. At the same time 

 it was growing in water too deep (10-12 feet) to permit 

 a rake or hoe to reach its bed. I was, therefore, unable 

 to collect more than these chance pieces. However, the 

 specimens are sufficient for ]\Ir. Groves to identify the 

 plant and to establish the fact of the occurrence of this 

 rather rare Nitella in the Fanad peninsula — a notable 

 extension of its area, since so far it has onty, I think, 

 been recorded from the Killarney Lakes. 



Another interes^^^'^ plant came up in the drag almost 

 at the same time, not this time a Chara, Najas flexilis,^ 

 Rosk. and Schmidt, till now recorded only from Kerry 

 and Galway. 



Near L. Tra I came upon a few small trenches about 

 2 feet wide and 18 inches deep dug probably last spring. 

 Here Charas were luxuriating in pools of clear, clean water 

 where they enjoyed free play unchecked by any stronger 

 growth. They yielded beautiful specimens of C. hispida, 

 C. fragilis, C. delicatida, and C. contraria in forms and 

 condition to satisfy the most exacting of characeologists. 

 I was able also to visit a lake near Melmore Head on 

 the western side of Mulroy Bay— a very interesting piece 

 of water which might have yielded some treasures had 

 a boat been available, for it appeared to abound in Chara 

 growth. Hoe and drag brought up C. fragilis and its var. 

 capillacea* Coss. and G., C. contraria and its var. 

 hispidida* Braun., C. aspera, and C. desmacantha both in 

 small short form and in its large lax form. 



