136 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



and published by the Smithsonian Institute, a copy of which 

 was kindly presented to me by the Institute. I have, of course, 

 many species identical with those described as British and 

 North American, and some species are now in Europe awaiting 

 final examination and determination. These plants are found 

 in all parts of the world, and in all sorts of places. They have 

 been found in an icicle and in the heated waters of a boiling 

 spring, in stagnant and brackish waters, in the eternal snow of 

 the highest mountains, in the beautiful streams of our valleys, 

 in the marshes, little pools and ponds, and almost anywhere, 

 where the places are in a constant state of moisture. In the 

 gutters of our streets, whether it is the Yan Yean going to 

 waste or the drainage from the factories or breweries, there is 

 evidence in some form or other of Algic growth. Mr. H. C. 

 Wood, in "The Freshwater Algae of North America," says : — 

 " In their investigation the physiologist comes nearer almost 

 than in any other study to life in its simplest forms, watching 

 its processes, measuring its forces, and approximating its 

 mysteries. Sometimes, when my microscope has revealed a 

 new world of restless activity and beauty, and some scene of 

 especial interest, such as the impregnation of an CEdogonium, 

 has presented itself to me, I confess the enthusiastic pleasure 

 produced has been tempered with a feeling of awe." 



But some species will grow in confinement in small aquaria 

 if the water is changed frequently. I have a species which was 

 collected at Oakleigh in July last, but at the time it was too 

 young for identification. However, by attention it grew, and 

 now is in a perfect st te of fructification. It is a species of 

 Qidogonium, a drawing of which is now before you. Of course 

 if a person has been collecting for many years, he often- 

 times obtains species once that he never gets again. There are 

 three or four in this collection which I have never seen but 

 once, and then only enough for a single mount. The most 

 notable species I can now name is the one named Sphcorozyga 

 flexuosa. Some of you will recollect that some years ago the 

 Yan Yean water became discoloured, and for a time was 

 unpalatable, although too much was said at the time in the 

 daily papers as to its probable unhealthy condition. The facts 

 of the case were known to some who were familiar with the 

 normal condition of this Alg, and knew of its very early 

 disappearance. I have here a specimen of the plant, mounted 

 at the time of its occurrence. 



I have also prepared a list of the Desmids and freshwater 

 Algae that have been collected by me in Victoria. A list was 

 published in 1864 in our " Royal Society's Transactions," but 

 the nomenclature of Algte has changed so much since that this 

 previous list is now obsolete. 



