FRESHWATER WEEDS. 181 



spokes of a wheel ; the Bundle species is in clusters of 

 club-shaped fronds ; while those of the E. paradoxa are 

 thread shaped, and branched, and thickened at the ends. 

 None of these plants exceed the eighth part of an inch in 

 height. 



The Scytonemas are found both in the sea and in 

 damp places. Matted together, gelatinous when wet, its 

 members are found on rocks, hills, and banks. One of 

 them resembles mouse-skin. The Bird's-eye species looks 

 like velvet-pile on rocks. The Oscillatorise proper are 

 formed of simple threads. The Dark Green species 

 floats cloud-like on the surface of ponds, the tuft two 

 or three inches across. The Pale green one frequents 

 wells. The Ochraceus species is found in pools and bogs, 

 looking like a brownish cloud traversed by very fine 

 threads. The bark species is like a skin on damp wood, 

 when dry, pealing like glaucous riband. There is a blue 

 green species on damp ground about old buildings, and 

 a blue one found in tanks ; all beautiful objects when 

 displayed on paper. 



Once when walking on the Wiltshire Downs I noticed 

 curious bodies like half-empty grape skins. They were 

 olive coloured, transparent, and gelatinous. I inquired 

 of the natives regarding them ; " they are Fallen Stars," 

 said one, " Star Slough," said another. I tried to elicit 

 a legend if I could not arrive at botanical informa- 

 tion, but I failed even here. Nobody saw the stars fall, 

 nor knew what the plant had to do with them, only it 

 was called " Fallen Stars," or " Star Sloughs." I betook 

 myself to my friend's well furnished library, and there 



