H. C. Wood on some California Alge. 31 
the ratio of 50:1. Whence then comes the nitrogen that is 
required to make up the proper proportion? The ammonia of 
the soil is not able to give a sufficient answer to this question, 
but we have here the explanation: In the direct sunlight, not 
only the carbon and hydrogen are taken up in a higher degree, 
but also the nitrogen of the air, the latter being quickly conver- 
ted into the easily assimilable form of nitrite of ammonia. 
New York, April 1, 1868. 
Art. IV.—Notes on some Algae from a Californian hot 
Spring ; by Dr. H. C. Woop, Jr., Professor of Botany in 
the University of Pennsylvania. 
. Some time since Prof. Leidy handed me for examination a 
number of dried Algge, which he had received from Prof. Seid- 
ensticker, by whose sister, Mrs. Partz, they had been gathered 
in the “‘ Benton Spring,” which is situated in the extreme 
northern point of Owen’s Valley, California, 60 miies south- 
west from the town of Aurora. Afterward a number of simi- 
lar specimens came to me directly from Mrs. Partz by mail. 
The subject of life in thermal springs is one of so.much gen- 
eral interest, especially in connection with that of spontaneous 
generation, as to induce me to make a very careful examina- 
tion of the material and offer the results to the readers of this 
Journal. In this connection the following extract from a 
0 
green. Below 100° F. these plants cease to grow and give way 
ppears, ing 01 
soft and pulpy nature as not to bear the least handling, and 
must be carried in their native hot water to the house, very few 
at a time, and floated upon paper. After being taken from the 
water and allowed to cool they become a black pulpy mass. 
But more strange than the vegetable are the animal organiza- 
