57 



productive field for the smaller filamentous and unicellular Algae ; 

 but owing to the zeal of the caretakers of the bath to prevent 

 the floor and walls becoming slimy and slippery, by means of 

 weekly scrubbings and occasional lime washings, the algal 

 vegetation is very scarce. However, by scraping the sediment 

 from the floor of the bath when the water has been let out, I 

 have been able to find portions of several species of Algae ; and 

 the fact of their being able to grow in spite of the warfare 

 carried on against them^ justifies, I think, the opinion I have 

 expressed as to the habitat being a favourable one. 



The principal genus is a Phormidium, or Lyngbya, as it is now 

 termed by Cooke, of which there are two species, a larger and a 

 smaller, probably P. corium and inundatum, also a few filaments 

 of Nostoc and some unicellular Algae, principally Glceocystis. 

 On the under sides of the wooden seats in the bath is a plentiful 

 supply of the fungus Merulius lacrymans, common dry rot. 



3. The Central Well. — This is the centre of highest temperature 

 in the baths, the water being generally about 118°, flowing up 

 directly from the source to fill the King's Bath. The whole of 

 the inside wall of the well presents a curious appearance, being 

 lined throughout by a thick coating of the fungus Merulius 

 lacrymans, which itself is stained by the iron deposited by the 

 mineral water, and pierced by numberless filaments exceedingly 

 fine in character, of the small Phormidium before mentioned. 

 Under the microscope this arrangement may be well seen j but 

 the Alga is so small that it is with difficulty detected by the 

 naked eye. There are various patches of Algae around the mouth 

 and outer walls of the well ; but none diff'erent, as far as I at 

 present know, from those found in the King's Bath. 



I regret that, owing to the late period of the year at which I 

 took up this subject, and to the pressure of other duties, I have 

 been unable to do as much justice to my subject as I should have 

 wished ; but I propose to continue my observations, and to 

 supplement this paper on another occasion. 



