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open to the S.E. and semi-exposed, it has not been found ; though 
it should be added that this ground has not been thoroughly 
examined. In other parts of England Colpomenia is found in 
sheltered positions; and, judging by the accounts given by French 
writers, it is most frequent in similar situations on their side of the 
Channel. Sauvageau, however, mentions one spot on the island of 
Oléron where he found Colpomenia exposed to the “ mer sauvage.” 
With regard to the distribution of the alga in Britain, the 
records given below show that it is widespread in 8. Cornwall, 
S. Devon and Dorset. It will be observed that the alga existed on 
the Cornish Coast previous to 1907, and this may be true of other 
places from which it is here recorded for the first time. There is 
no doubt, however, that it now occurs in greatly increased quantities ; 
and that, with regard to Weymouth and Swanage, it was absent or 
only present in small quantity previous to 1906 and 1907 re- 
spectively. It will also be noted that several of the specimens were 
collected in July and August, which suggests that summer-plants 
are not infrequent in the West of England. Scilly Islands speci- 
mens, collected there in August 1908 and 1909, were forwarded by 
Mr. R. W. Smitham, who states that he first noted the plant on 
those islands in August 1905, in a spot where the Breton shell-fish 
boats shelter when driven from their fishing-grounds near the Seven 
Stones lightship. This date would appear to be the earliest that 
‘olpomenia was observed on either side of the English Channel : at 
the time (as at other places) it was mistaken for Leathesia difformis. 
Mr. Smitham also mentions that the alga occurs at Fowey, 
Cornwall, and that he first observed it there in 1906. Further 
Cornish records were supplied by the Rev. H. Boyden, who found 
the plant at Long Rock, Mounts Bay, in July 1908; and his dried 
collection contains two specimens from West Looe, collected in 
July 1906. Mr. Boyden also forwarded specimens:from Falmouth, 
where he observed a few small plants in rock-pools near the low- 
water line in August 1909. In Devon, Colpomenia was noted by 
Mr. and Mrs. Gepp at Goodrington and Paignton in March and 
June 1910; and by Mr. Boyden in August 1910 at Torquay 
(where it was first observed by Mr. Holmes in 1907). The Dorset 
records are :—Weymouth, Chapman’s Pool, Swanage, Studland, 
and near the mouth of Poole Harbour, in the first four of which 
places it occurs in great profusion. 
The above records probably represent all the suitable localities 
on the south coast that have been visited by algologists during the 
past three years with a view to noting the presence of Colpomenia. 
It doubtless occurs in many other places, and, judging from its 
abundance in several of the districts named, it is reasonable to 
conclude that it may be found more or less along the whole coast 
from Lands End to Poole. It is regrettable that there are so few 
persons in England who may be appealed to for help in a matter of 
this kind, and that, in a country possessing a fine sea-board and 
excellent collecting-grounds, the systematic study of algae has fallen 
to so low an ebb. 
With regard to the absence of Colpomenia in other parts, a 
certain amount of evidence has been obtained. Mr. Smitham 
