Miscellaneous. 429 
spores, which in other individuals of the family are simple, divided cru- 
cially into four distinct spores, precisely as in Floridee. The family 
then of Zoospermee, like the two others, exhibits this peculiarity.” 
The Alga of course belongs to a new genus, and Dr. Montagne 
has in consequence dedicated it to Mr. G. H. K. Thwaites, who has 
facilitated the study of Algze so much by his admirable mode of pre- 
paring specimens. M. J. B.—From a Letter presented to the French 
Academy, October 20, 1845. 
HASSALL’S ‘ FRESHWATER ALG.’ 
To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. 
GENTLEMEN,—I beg to call your attention to an omission in the 
preface of the ‘ History of the British Freshwater Algz,’ of which 
I was not conscious until the work was placed in my hands ready 
bound, and which I much regret. 
In making my acknowledgments to those gentlemen who kindly 
afforded me assistance in the preparation of the work, I have, most 
unfortunately and unaccountably, omitted all reference to the re- 
spected name of Mr. Dillwyn, one of the earliest and most success- 
ful cultivators of a knowledge of the Algz. 
In a future issue of the book I will take care that this error be rec- 
tified, and in the meantime I should feel obliged by your insertion 
of these few lines in explanation of what might seem a strange omis- 
sion to many, and to Mr. Dillwyn a slight, the commission of which 
never entered into my thoughts. 
I remain, Gentlemen, your very obedient servant, 
Artuur H. Hassatt. 
Norland Villa, Addison Road North, Sept. 10, 1845. 
NATURAL HISTORY IN IRELAND. 
Among the signs of good times for natural history, one of the 
most promising is the encouragement given to that science in the 
University of Dublin, and which contrasts favourably with the apathy, 
and even opposition shown towards it by Oxford and Cambridge, and 
the indifference displayed by the senators of the University of London, 
a body too fondly attached to the traditions of the older universities. 
In a printed notice of the present state of the natural-history collec- 
tions in Trinity College, Dublin, now under the charge of one of the 
first among British zoologists, Mr. Robert Ball, we find that the uni- 
versity professors give courses of lectures, free to the public, on com- 
parative anatomy, botany, mineralogy and geology, besides demon- 
strations in their respective departments by the keepers of the bota- 
nical and zoological collections. When we read the name of Harrison 
in connexion with comparative anatomy, of Allman and Harvey with 
botany, of Ball with zoology, and of Apjohn and Oldham with mine- 
ralogy and geology, it is very evident that Dublin possesses the only 
university in the British empire which can boast of a complete school 
of natural history, conducted by competent professors and freely open 
to al] who wish to learn. Honour, then, to the Provost, Fellows and 
Professors of Trinity College! Their museums, too, are thrown open 
