196 



be interested in the study of Marine Botany. In most instances, 

 specimens of the same kind, but collected at different seasons of 

 the year, or brought from different localities, and presenting dif- 

 ferent appearances to the naked eye, are phiced side by side, 

 upon the same sheet or within the same envelope, so that the 

 work of comparing one specimen with another, and of ascertain- 

 ing the names of doubtful ones, which the student may possess, 

 is rendered easy. And the fact, that very niany of the speci- 

 mens are those originally described, and that nearly every plant 

 in the collection has attached to it the name of some distinguished 

 algologist, as Bailey, Harvey, Binder, or Jolit, stamps upon it an 

 important value. It makes it a type specimen. 



Upon the cover of each volume is an index of what is con- 

 tained within ; that is, a synopsis of the series, sub-series, order 

 or family, to which the enclosed specimens belong ; and even the 

 individual names of the plants are written on the outside. 



The family of Florideae are the most numerous, and embrace 

 nearly one half of the whole collection. They are contained in 

 fifteen portfolios. 



The Diatomaceae are in one volume, and amount to four hun- 

 dred and twenty-five. 



The whole number in the collection is about four thousand 

 five hundred. Of this number about two hundred varieties 

 belong to the FloridetB, 



The Committee have not had time to enter into further par- 

 ticulars respecting this magnificent collection of Algae. Its value 

 is beyond all price. It raises the department of Marine Botany 

 to a preeminent position in our Cabinet. We hazard nothing 

 in saying that no collection of the kind in the country is equal to 

 it, and but few in Europe superior to it. 



The animal tissues are contained in the boxes or Nos. marked 

 4, 5, 6. 



No. 4, contains the tissues of some of the Vertebrata. 

 J^o. 5, the tissues of some of the Articulata. 

 J^^o. 6, the tissues of some of the Mollusca and Radiata. 

 The whole number in the three boxes is sixty-nine ; all in 

 good order excepting one. The slide containing this specimen 

 is broken. 



