OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM. 281 



23. CLADOSTEPHUS, Ag. 



1. C. VERTiciLLATUs, Aff. Hai'v. Man., p. 54. Phyc. Brit., 



t. 33. Atlas, PL XIV., fig. 58. Jolinst. and 

 Cr.,t. 169. 

 Conferva verticillata. E. Bot., t. 1718. 

 In pools between tide marks. Not common. — Roker and 

 Whitley rocks.— {?. S. ^.— N. D. 



2. C. spoNGiosus, Ag. Harv. Man., p 54. Pliyc. Brit., t. 138. 



Atlas, PI. XVII., fig. 71. Jolinst. and Cr., t. 

 ^ 170. 



Conferva spongiosa. E. Bot., t. '24,21 . 

 In the sea on rocks and stones. Common. — N. D. 



24. SPHACELARIA, Lyngh. 

 1. S. FiLiciNA, Ag. Harv. Man., p. 55. Phyc. Brit., t. 142. 

 Atlas, PL XVII., fig. 72. Johnst. and Cr., t. 

 171. 

 In a pool overhung by lofty rocks, south of Seaham harbour. 

 Very rare. I have gathered this beautiful plant on two occa- 

 sions (1859 and 1860), but it does not seem to extend beyond 

 the limits of a very small pool on a ledge of rock completely 

 overhung and darkened by the cliff above.* Its occurrence on 

 our coast is particularly interesting, seeing that the only British 

 stations hitherto recorded are a few places " in the south of Eng- 

 land and Ireland." In the same pool, I found several specimens 

 of Bryopsis plumosa, and an abundance of Istlimia enervis, one of 

 the largest and most beautiful of British Diatoms. — D. 



* Since writirig this notice, I liare visited the locality alluded to (October, 18G0), and 

 though the tide prevented my reaching the pool in which the Sphaeelaria used to grow, I 

 can have little doubt that if it be not now extinct, it will very soon become so. The 

 Marchioness of Londonderry has "shot" on to the beach, within a few j'ards of the spot, 

 a huge heap of coal dust and rubbish from the blast furnaces in course of erection on 

 the cliff above. This once beautiful piece of coast scenery is now a hideous tract of 

 "burning marl," and the sea literally a sea of ink. Among the numerous interesting 

 victims may also be noticed Asplenium marinum, which, not long ago, grew here in con- 

 siderable abundance, but is how totally destroyed by the smoke and dust from the burning 

 rubbish. 



