157 
ON THE COLLECTION OF FRESHWATER 
ALG. 
W. WEST, F.L.S., anp G. S. WEST, A.R.C.S. 
Wuerever a place is kept permanently moist, Algz will develop. 
They are found on damp rocks, walls, palings, shaded tree-trunks, 
spouts, rain-tubs, etc. They are met with again in all kinds of 
running water from the tumbling cataract and rapid torrent to the 
slow majestic river. In perfectly quiet waters they are most prolific, 
whether it be the tiny moor-pool or the expansive lake. Some even 
find shelter in symbiotic relationship with other plants, for instance, 
an Anabena lives with the aquatic Lycopod Azo//a, and another lives 
with the Hepatic Blasia, to say nothing of those associated with 
fungi to form the compound dual organism known as a lichen, or 
those symbiotically connected with such animals as Hydra viridis 
and certain species of Amada. 
Many of the larger Freshwater Algze can be seen as green slimy 
masses floating on the surface of, or attached to, the sides of ponds, 
ditches, rivers, etc. Small tufts of these should be carefully 
collected in tubes or small bottles. Constantly dripping rocks yield 
quite characteristic species, and even shady moist rocks have an 
algal flora of their own. There can often be found on vertical moist 
rocks (especially limestone) coriaceous patches, or gelatinous masses, 
of a red, brown, green, bluish-green, or blackish colour ; the algz of 
which these masses consist are always most interesting. The green 
slimy Masses even in brick-ponds and similar places are often of 
great interest. 
But there are a large number of alg, often the most. beautiful 
ones, which are very minute, and the places wherein they abound 
are not usually obvious to an inexperienced eye; these forms are 
ceeangts to be found about the stems and leaves of constantly 
Ny al plants, such as Utricularia minor, Myrtophyllum, 
acs a, Nuphar, Isoétes, Potamogeton, Scirpus flutans, etc. Among 
H eat arma contortum, S. plumosum, HHypnum scorpioides, 
soak uatum, fontinalis, ele, are usually richly clothed with 
me ee ste To collect from plants of this kind, the best way Is 
cid i €m (or portions of them) from the water with as little 
should opal and allow them to drain a minute or so; they 
the aa gently squeezed over a wide-mouthed bottle, allowing 
he filled 8 water to collect in the bottle. The bottles should not 
out. We wax: full, or in carriage the corks are liable to be forced. 
ay fave known about a thimbleful of such a slimy squeezing 
