220 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Aug 
the light for a day or two, when the. desmids will collect 
on top of the sediment, where they will increase and 
multiply. The surface layer containing the desmids may 
then be drawn off with a syphon and cleaned as before. 
A somewhat similar rocking process is useful for separat- 
ing foraminifera from sand, but the rocking must bea 
little more violent, when the sand is left behind, unlike 
the flocculent matter in the desmid gatherings, which is 
swept forward by the water. The foraminifera are not, 
of course, so easily distinguished by the eye. In mount- 
ing, Dr. Bryan makes a small box of parchment paper, 
about 14 inch by 1 inch, and places the water containing 
the desmids in the box, which is then floated on glycer- 
ine. In two days the water will have diffused into the 
glycerine, and sufficient glycerine to penetrate the desmids 
will have passed through the parchment into the box. 
By this ingenious method the desmids will ne no 
contraction. —Science-Gossip. 
—_———_——— 
Mounting Marine Algae. 
JOHN T. NEEVE, DEAL, ENG. 
I submit the following few notes on preparing and 
mounting marine algae, which originally appeared in the 
“Tnternational Journal of Microscopy and Natural Sci- 
ence” in October, 1894, hoping that they may induce some 
to take up the study of these beautiful lowly plants. 
I will assume that we have collected a number of diff- 
erent species, either from the seashore after a breeze or ; 
from thetrocks at low tide; as soon as possible on reach- 
ing home we proceed to examine our treasures. Have 
ready a couple of basins, a soup plate, and a couple of 
saucers ; put into the basins and plate some sea water, 
or salt and water made by well stirring some common 
salt in a jug of fresh water; let it settle and then pour 
‘off. Wash the algae well in No. 1 basin and rinse in No. 
2, carefully spread and float out the frond in the plate, 
