*2 56 CRYPTOGAMI AALGyE. 



two spiral lines, forming by their intersections a diamond-shaped 

 net-work ; articulations always more than twice their diameter in 



length GREV. Fl. Edin. 320. Z. nitidum-, HOOK. Scot. ii. 80. 



Conferva nitida, DILLW. Syn. 49. t. 4. C. dedmina, DILLW. Syn. 

 49. C.jugalis, DILLW. Conf. t. 5. 



Hab. Ponds, common in summer, floating in large masses. 



2. Z. quinmum, green, soft, lubricous ; filaments long, with a 

 single spiral line forming the letter V in its regular and close re- 

 volutions ; joints obscure, twice their diameter in length. HOOK. 

 Scot. ii. 80. GREV. Fl. Edin. 320. Conjugata porticalis, VAUCH. 

 Conf. 66. t. 5. f. 1. Conferva spiralis, DILLW. Conf. t. 3. Eng. 

 Sot. t. 1656* 



Hab. Ponds and ditches, very common in spring and sum- 

 mer, in very dark green masses. 



The filaments in this are usually a third more slender than 

 those of the preceding ; and the joints are so obscure, that 

 they were overlooked by the accurate MULLER, who first 

 made the species knoAvn. Both plants make their appear- 

 ance early in spring, forming, in ponds and ditches, large 

 smooth dark-green masses of vegetation, agreeable enough 

 to the eye, yet giving no visible sign of the beautiful and 

 singular structure which the microscope proves them to 

 possess. 1 have now very often examined it, and the 

 pleasure of a re-examination continues unabated, although 

 unmixed with the wonder and surprise which heightened 

 the enjoyment of its first detection. It seems peculiar to 

 the works of creation, that familiarity with their appear- 

 ances creates no satiety. The filaments marked with their 

 beaded spiral lines resemble miniature necklaces of fairy 

 workmanship. 



3. Z. bipunctatum, green, lubricous ; filaments long, with joints 

 two or three times longer than broad, each containing two stel- 

 lated clusters of granules GREV, Fl. Edin. 320. Conferva bi- 

 punctata, DILLW. Syn. 50. t. 2. Eng. Bot. t. 1610. 



Hab. In ditches and small ponds, common. Spring. 



Floats in large masses, sometimes of a very deep green, but 

 more commonly of a yellowish-green colour. The spots 

 in the joints are at first globular or elliptical, but when 

 perfect they separate to a short distance, and assume the 

 starred character. u The space also that they occupy in 



