(114) 



Its character as a species must rest on its structure, not on its 

 branching, as we have met with specimens of the preceding, and often 

 of the following, with only an occasional ramulus on some of the 

 branches. The colour and more cylindrical stem and branches will 

 indeed generally be sufficient to distinguish it from the first, but in 

 many of the varieties of the following species these characters are 

 identical. The tomentum-like covering is scarcely more certain, and is 

 too common a characteristic of the filiform Algse to be much depended 

 on. All the species contract greatly in drying, and when moistened do 

 not readily regain their original fonn, this species in particular is so 

 adhesive that it is scarcely possible even to remove the water from it 

 with blotting-paper, without removing the plant. 



MESOGLOIA GRIFFITHSIAKA. 



EXPLANATION OF DISSECTIONS. 



Fig. 1. — Portioa of a branch. 

 2. — Section of same. 

 3.— Portion of same, more magnified. 

 4. — Filament of the periphery. 

 5. — Branch. All magnified. 



