392 Canadian Record of Science 



who suggested the problem, and my thanks are also due 

 to Mr. Ardley of the Museum staff, who gave me very 

 valuable assistance in collecting material. 



As far as algal literature is concerned, Canada ap- 

 pears to be an unknown land. No references occur even 

 in the latest works to the distribution of any of 

 the forms in Canada, and Mr. Collins in the preface to 

 "The Green Algae of North America" 7 laments that 

 apparently no data are to be had on the sub- 

 ject. With the exception of a list of forms recorded by 

 Mr. A. B. Klugh from the Bruce Peninsula, in the Ottawa 

 Naturalist 3 for September, 1911, I believe this is the 

 first attempt at a systematic study of any Canadian 

 fresh water algae. 



Occurrence and Distribution of Fresh-water Alg^;. 



No moist situation is without some type of alga. 

 While quiet lakes, pools and ponds form the most con- 

 genial home for the larger forms, algae are also to be 

 found in great abundance in water-falls, and all sorts of 

 swift-running streams, and, indeed, there is no tree- 

 trunk, wet rock, water trough, damp wall or decaying 

 fence-post but forms the habitat of some member of the 

 group. 



In quiet pools the large filamentous forms frequently 

 occur, attached as epiphytes to rocks or to other aquatic 

 plants, and stream up towards the surface in great felt- 

 like masses. Some forms are found floating on the sur- 

 face of ponds and lakes as conspicuous slimy green 

 masses ; while others occur, especially on rocks over which 

 water is constantly dripping, in thin gelatinous films, 

 exhibiting a variety of color. These are usually forms 

 belonging to the Cyanophyceae, or blue-green algae, and 

 are some of the most beautiful and interesting of all the 

 species. 



Some algae have acquired a symbyotic relationship with 

 other plants and even with animals. Examples are a 



