1 64 The Irish Naturalist. 



out of a considerable number of peat-pits which we examined. 

 In Lough Owel we found three forms of C. tomentosa — one the 

 largest we have seen — C. polyacantha, and several forms of 

 C. aspera and C. contraria. 



We spent a few days in Galwa}^ and in some peat-pits to the 

 east of Lough Corrib, near Ballindobly, we found a very fine 

 form of N. tenuissifna growing with C. polyacantha. We also 

 found the latter species in the western division of the county. 

 From Galway we went on to Killarney, but here unfortu- 

 nately the weather was very unfavourable for dragging, and 

 the water in the lakes was exceptionally high. We were not 

 successful in finding the little Nitella discovered by Mr. 

 Scully, which we formerly referred to N. gracilis. Mr. Scully 

 was however kind enough to send us a quantity of fresh 

 specimens, and an examination of these prove that the plant 

 is not N. gracilis but a large form of -A^. nordstedtiafta. The 

 first Irish specimens of the plant which we received were 

 collected by Mr. Scully in 1889 i^^ Caragh Lake, and these 

 much more resemble a small form of N. gracilis than any 

 form of N. 7iordstedtia7ia with which we were then acquainted. 

 Since our return from Ireland Mr. Levinge has sent us a 

 sterile specimen of a curious Chara collected by him in 

 Brittas Lake, which seems to be closely related to the Swiss 

 C. dissoluta. We hope to see fruiting specimens, which are 

 necessary for a satisfactory determination. 



We were much struck by the abundance of Characem in the 

 Irish lakes. The great quantity and diversity of form of Chara 

 contraria in the Westmeath lakes were very noticeable. C. 

 fragilis, C. aspera, and C. hispida were common and generally 

 distributed, while C. vulgaris and A^. opaca, though noticed 

 in several places, were not so general as in England. It is 

 curious that the known localities for N. tenuissima in the 

 British Isles — Cambridgeshire, Anglesea, Westmeath, and 

 Galway, are nearly in a line from east to west. We think it 

 probable, however, that it will be found to occur in the other 

 peat districts of Ireland, and we hope that Irish botanists will 

 search for this and for the other species likely to be found. 

 C. co?i?iive?is, C.fragifera, C. baltica, C. canesceus, L. alopecuroides, 

 and L. stelliger, which occurs in the south-west of England, 

 should be looked for in pools near the sea in the southern 

 counties. Lough Neagh should be searched for the Tolypella 

 which Braun referred to T. nidifica, forma ijitcrmedia. 



