64 HOOKER. — BOTANICAL INSTRUCTIONS. 



consistently with preserving the whole specimen. Besides drying 

 between papers the branched and leafy kinds, bags of them should 

 be brought home in a rough state for chemical analysis. 



Fungi. 



This family of plants is rare in the Polar regions, and a few 

 Agarics and Pezizse are the forms most frequently to be met with. 

 Search should be made for the minute species which are parasitic 

 on the branches and leaves of woody plants. In the case of 

 Agarics the spores should be collected on white paper and their 

 colour noted, and the plant itself preserved in spirits. In all 

 cases the colours should be noted, or, better still, the plants should 

 be drawn. It is well also to note of Agarics, &c. whether the 

 stalk is solid or hollow, and the top dry or viscid, 



Alg^. 



Marine Algas may be found between tide-marks attached to 

 rocks and stones, or rooting in sand, &c. ; those in deeper water 

 are got by dredging, and many are cast up after storms ; small 

 kinds grow on the larger, and some forming Jleshy crusts on 

 stones, shells, &c. must be pared off by means of a knife. 



The more delicate kinds, after gentle washing, may be floated in 

 a vessel of fresh water, upon thick and smooth writing or drawing 

 paper ; then gently lift out paper and plant together ; allow some 

 time to drip ; then place on the sea-weed clean linen or cotton 

 cloth, and on it a sheet of absorbent paper, and submit to mode- 

 rate pressure. Many adhere to paper but not to cloth ; then 

 change the cloth and absorbent paper till the specimens are dry. 

 Large coarser kinds may be dried in the same way as land plants ; 

 or are to be spread out in the shade, taking care to prevent con- 

 tact of rain or fresh water of any kind ; when sufficiently dry, tie 

 them loosely in any kind of wrapping paper. Those preserved in 

 this rough way may be expanded and floated out in water at any 

 time afterwards. A few specimens of each of the more delicate 

 Algae ought to be dried on mica or glass. A note of date and 

 locality ought to be attached to every species. 



Delicate slimy Algae are best prepared by floating out on smooth- 

 surfaced paper (known as *' sketching paper ") ; then allow to 

 drip and dry by simple exposure to currents of air without 

 pressure. 



Very little information exists regarding the range of depth of 

 marine plants. It will be very desirable that observations should 

 be made upon this subject, as opportunity from time to time 

 presents itself. 



Professor Dickie remarks, and the caution should be borne in 

 mind: — " When the dredge ceases to scrape the bottom, it becomes 

 " in its progress to the surface much the same as a towing net, 

 " capturing bodies which are being carried along by currents, 

 " and therefore great caution is necessary in reference to any 



