96 DESM1DIE.E. 





BY W. W. STODDART. 



Bead at the General Meeting, Novemher 6th, 1873. 



ALTHOUGH the Desmids do not like a limestone soil, 

 yet the following list of these beautiful forms proves that 

 the Bristol naturalist has a tolerably fair field for his searching 

 powers. 



Although rarely found in running streams, yet one or two may 

 be gathered in such a habitat — as Closterium Ehrenbergii, &c. 

 Generally, however, the most likely spots are small holes or 

 shallow ditches exposed to the light, especially in grassy 

 situations. One invariable sine qua non is that the water shall be 

 bright and clear. 



The best method of collecting Desmids is to have a small oval 

 strainer Avith a fine cambric bottom. Sometimes a tin scoop is 

 preferable, when the Desmids are much diffused, and straining 

 the water through fine muslin or cambric stretched on a 

 flannel. The little bodies can then be scraped off with a knife 

 and transferred to the usual wide-mouthed bottle. Many species 

 are usually found as a cloud on the leaves or stems of submerged 



