THE society's NOTE-BOOKS. 241 



The proper position of this seaweed amongst Algae is as 

 follows : — 



Sub-class II. — Rhodosperme^. 



Order 13. — Ceramiaceae. 



Genus LXXXiU.—S/inWia. 



Sp. 239 filameniosa. 



The only British species of this genus, although it has several 

 synonyms. 



" This plant, which is very local on the British coasts, although 

 found in considerable abundance in a few places, is interesting in a 

 geographical view, being a native of warm latitudes, and reaching 

 to its northern limit in this country. Until very recently, when 

 Mr. Ralfs discovered it on the Welsh coast, it had only been 

 found in Britain on the extreme southern shores. It is more 

 plentiful in the Channel Islands and along the French coast, and 

 abounds in the Mediterranean ; but the finest specimens are 

 found in the tropical oceans. In Britain it is generally much dis- 

 coloured, being of a dirty grey or brownish cast, a deformity 

 caused by its growing in comparatively shallow water, and in 

 ])laces exposed to strong sunshine. Spiridia is from a Greek word 

 signifying a ' Basket.' " 



J. Carpenter. 



Seeds.— AH the seeds of the " Catch-fly " tribe form beautiful 

 microscopic objects, and are well worth the attention of our 

 members. 



J. Carpenter. 



ZOOLOGICAL. 



Wheat-Eels (AnguilMa tritici).— Shortly before his death, 

 our lamented friend, Mr. A. Nicholson, circulated a slide con- 

 taining these creatures in three stages of their existence, viz. — 

 the egg in various states of development ; the eel as it leaves the 

 egg and spends the first portion of its life ; and the eel in its final 

 state after a period of torpidity. For an account of these Eels, 

 Mr. Nicholson referred the members to a short article written by 

 him in Science Gossip, March, 1867, in which he says, to rear these 

 creatures, " I proceed thus : — After selecting about eight grains of 

 good wheat, and an equal number of the infected ones, I wrap 

 them in pairs in small pieces of paper, and thus plant them in my 



