Fresh- Water Algoe of Canada. 455 



Algae. They are frequently found in cold springs. And Bory men- 

 tions that he had carried, many times, individuals of the species B. 

 ronfusum from one locality to another, and that they continued to 

 prosper in spite of the change of habitation. He also steeped many 

 of them in lukewarm water, afterwards in boiling, and no part of the 

 batrachosperm appeared under the microscope to have undergone 

 the slightest disorganisation ; and certain sprigs replaced in their 

 native place continued to vegetate after these experiments. "I 

 do not think,'' says he, " that there exist other vegetables which 

 boiling water does not immediately disorganise : there are not 

 others that can resist temperatures so opposite." We have made 

 a, like experiment with our plant, and find that boiling water does 

 not affect it in the least ; probably some part of its mucous may 

 be abstracted, but it remains in all its parts the same as before. 

 It would appear, however, that the species B. moniliforme flour- 

 ishes best, if not exclusively in warm temperatures, or in places 

 where the winter is comparatively open and mild. 



"We have gone back in the order of arrangement to introduce 

 this plant. It should have come in immediately before the Chae- 

 tophoreai. According to the classification of Hassall, it is the only 

 genus of the family Batrachospermeai, We regret that we are 

 not permitted the pleasure of mentioning the name of the collec- 

 tor. We, however, anticipate that much will yet be done by this 

 diligent and painstaking correspondent to illustrate the Marine and 

 Fresh- Water Algae of Canada. 



Fam. viil— conjugated. 



a Char. — Filaments simple, equal, often conjugating . Endochrome 

 mostly figured. Sporangia formed generally by the union 

 of the contents of two cells, either in different or in the same 

 filaments.' 1 '' Hass. 



" This is perhaps the most curious of all the tribe of Confervce. 

 When viewed together they form an exceedingly natural group 

 but one which is defined rather by the enumeration of a number 

 of characters than by one in particular." 



When examined by a microscope they are seen to be un- 

 branched, and of uniform diameter. For the most part they are 

 unattached, their natural home being quiet, deep, and clear pools. 

 In the young state they are frequently rooted to stones. Those 

 also that are found in streams are fixed to stones or wood. In 



