SELECTED NOTES FROM THE SOCIETY'S NOTE-BOOKS. 185 



to be secured. From personal experience we can say but little of 

 the algae to be obtained in winter, but a friend writes : — " I 

 always turn out whenever the ponds are accessible in the winter — 

 it is the harvest-time." 



Volvox, C/iara, Nitella^ etc., may all be obtained in the depth 

 of winter, and the supply of specimens which can be obtained at 

 that season by an ardent hunter is unUmited. 



We may perhaps be allowed to say that for comfort it is 

 desirable to have such apparatus only as can be manipulated, 

 whilst wearing a pair of thick gloves, good strong boots, not 

 omitting a pipe, plenty of tobacco and matches — no cigars. 

 Thus equipped, we can promise the earnest pond-hunter a rich 

 reward. 



We do not wish to say that winter is the best or only time to 

 collect, but that winter-collecting is very important and should 

 not be neglected ; in collecting at this time of the year, we must 

 expect to suffer some discomfort. 



For those who are unable to face the winter wind, we purpose 

 at an early date, with the Editor's permission, making a few 

 suggestions on the " Microscopist's Breeding-Tank." 



Leeds. 



Selecteb IRotee from tbe Societij'a 

 1Rote^Boofe6. 



BOTANICAL. 



Sphagnum Moss. — On this moss Fig. 20. 



the utricles, which form a very good 

 distinguishing feature, especially to 

 beginners, may be very distinctly 

 seen. In the present instance the 

 leaves have been pulled off the base 

 of the stem for the purpose of 

 showing them more clearly. For 

 instance, in Sphagmcm rigidum the 

 utricles are clean, as in ^, Fig. 20; va S. cymbilifolium they have 

 spiral fibres inside, as in b ; in S. jnolluscum the ends are re- 

 curved, as in c. A dark-ground illumination is best for the 

 examination of mosses. 



W. H. Chessman. 



