with some Notices of American Diatomce. 121 



lected by American botanists, (but one species, D. flocculosum, 

 being credited to our Flora,) I have made sketches of several spe- 

 cies, which occur, abundantly about West Point. 



I have found abundantly in this vicinity, Diatoinafiocculosum, 

 Fig. 12, Plate 2, another species, D. tenue, having the articu- 

 lations six to eight times as long as the diameter, Fig. 13, Plate 2, 

 Diatoma ct^ystallimim? Fig. 14, Plate 2, Fragillaria pectinalis, 

 Fig. 15, Plate 2, and Meridian vernale 1 of Agardh, Fig. 16, 

 Plate 2. My specimens of the latter, found in Washington's valley, 

 agree precisely with specimens sent to Dr. Torrey, by Dr. Binders, 

 and marked M. vernale^ Agardh, but Agardh's description, does 

 not suit them well. Perhaps this may be the M. circular e of 

 Agardh. 



I have also found, adhering to specimens of Algee, collected 

 near Providence, by my friend D. C Gushing, a great quantity 

 of Meloseira nummuloides, Agardh. This is another species of 

 the tribe Diatomas. It appears then, that this tribe is quite abun- 

 dant in tliis country, and a monograph of the species occurring in 

 the United. States, is much to be desired. 



In connection with the above, the following extracts from 

 Meyen's Report of the Progress of Yegetable Physiology,* during 

 the year 1836, will prove interesting. I met with it several weeks 

 after I made the observations above noticed. 



"Mohl confesses, that after many years' observation he still remains 

 quite in doubt as to the place which the BacillaricE should occupy ; that 

 however their increasing by separation, does not justify us in classing 

 them as animals, 



" I may also mention that Link, linger and Morren, have of late re- 

 marked, that these doubtful creatures which are known under the name 

 of BacillaricB, ought to be arranged with vegetables ; according to this, 

 there would remain no other botanist, with the exception of Corda, that 

 had paid any considerable attention to vegetable anatomy, who did not 

 consider the BacillaricB to be plants. 



"From this we may judge of the contradictions on this subject which 

 are found in the reports edited by Wiegmann and myself, on the progress 

 of zoology and physiological botany for the year 1835,t — as these crea- 



* Wiegmann's Archivfilr Naturgescliichte, 1837, Part iii. Translated in Lond. 

 and Ed. Phil. Mag., Oct. 1837, page 381. 

 \ Wiegmann's Archiv. 



Vol. XXXV.— No. 1. 16 



