1896-97-] The Upper Elf Loch, Braids. 281 



they again gradually sink. A few years ago, Dr Macfarlane, 

 while assistant to Professor Balfour, found this sporadic alga 

 in an old quarry by the side of the road near Granton, but 

 after a while it disappeared as mysteriously as it had come, 

 and has not been seen there again. If watched for, it may be 

 observed in some other locality in our district, a warm spring 

 day being the best time to find it. In the mild spring of 

 1896, as already mentioned, Volvox was found in great 

 quantities in the water of the Upper Elf Loch so early as the 

 end of March ; while this spring, which was a very cold and 

 backward one, it was several weeks later in being seen. 



Mr Hood has identified a number of Desmids, these being- 

 somewhat abundant in this loch. Among them are Cos- 

 marium, Euastrum, Closterium, Micrasterias, Ankistrodesmus, 

 and several others. The species of Diatoms as yet observed 

 are few. Diatoma vulgaris is abundant, D. elongata not 

 so common, while Pinnularia viridis is very abundant. A 

 stipitate or stalked form, first noticed by Mr Crawford, is 

 also met with, especially in early spring — probably a young 

 stage of Gomphonema. 



The filamentous algae, of which there are several genera and 

 species, will be named by Mr Terras as they come into fruit, 

 and will be given in our next paper. Spirogyra, Oscillaria, 

 Eivularia, and Gidogoniuni have been noted. 



Coming to the animal kingdom, and to its lowest division, 

 the Protozoa, — those lively specks of protoplasm, the Amoebae, 

 are represented by four species. The testaceous form, 

 Difflugia, has here two species, one of these, D. pyriformis, 

 being very abundant. The Infusoria are both abundant and 

 interesting. Retaining the old division into Ciliata, Flagellata, 

 and Cilio-Flagellata, all three classes are represented. Among 

 the ciliated forms are Paramcecium (two species), Coleps, 

 Colpidium, Stylonychia, and the well-known bell-animalcule, 

 Vorticella. In spring this last-mentioned interesting creature 

 was found on the rootlets of the duckweed, which were 

 studded with it ; but in autumn they had left these quarters, 

 and, instead of living separately, were massed together in 

 groups, all in active motion on their long spiral stalks. 

 Among the flagellate forms are the well-known Euglena (two 

 species), Phacus (three species), Lophomonas, and Uroglena. 



