KONGL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDLINGAK. BAND. 20. N:0 5. 17 



found within the formation of Laminariacece, and in somewhat greater number within 

 the formation of Lithoderma, though it is even here rather scarce. It has been disco- 

 vered in very large masses, lying loose on the bottom, at several places on the coast 

 of Spitzbergen, and at one place in the eastern part of the Kara Sea, in Actinia Bay. 

 In Spetsb. Thall. 1. p. 22 I have mentioned this fact as follows: »In general, it occurs 

 rare along the whole western and northern coast of Spitzbergen, fastened to shells and 

 smaller stones, at the depth of 5 — 15 fathoms. But in certain places it is found in 

 large masses lying loose on the bottom. At the southern side of Fairhaven a small 

 glacier discharges itself, before which the bottom consists of clay. The depth was here 

 12 — 15 fathoms. Here this species occurred in such a quantity that in a little while 

 several tuns of it were brought up with the dredges. Hundreds of the specimens taken 

 here were examined; but in no one any holdfast could be observed. All showed 

 the lower part of the frond in a state of dissolution. The upper parts, on the contrary, 

 were completely fresh, and some individuals Avere even furnished with nemathecia. 

 However, these specimens differed in colour and consistency from those which were 

 found attached both at Fairhaven and elsewhere. The frond was thinner, faded, and 

 had a strong greenish tint.)) J. G. Agaedh says about the same plant: ))This species, 

 of which only a few specimens had been found during the preceding expeditions, has 

 been discovered during the last both in Green Harbour and in Liefdebay, occurring in 

 the latter place in great quantity at 5 — 10 fathoms depth, together with Delesseria 

 sinuosa and Halymenia rosacea. Many of the specimens brought home seemed to be 

 in a state of decomposition with regard to their lower part, while the upper part was 

 perfectly sound. Only some few were found with root, fastened to smaller stones. 

 These circumstances probably indicate that the specimens had been lying loose, having 

 been brought gradually to the locality where they were found gathered in so great a 

 number, and that they continue to live here, their lower part rotting off, the upper 

 part increasing continually by meens of new prolifications. Even other algae (Sargassum 

 bacciferum) are known to possess the faculty of developing in an analogous manner for 

 a long time)). ^) The Halymenia (Kallymenia) rosacea seems also to be a species of this 

 kind. For my own part, I have seen it in the Arctic Sea only in very little number and 

 only a couple of times, and I have found only unattached specimens. During the expe- 

 dition of 1868, judging from the great number of specimens brought home and the 

 statements of J. G. Agaedh, it was found at Spitzbergen in most considerable quantities. 

 J. G. Agaedh says: ))It was brought up in large quantity from the depth of 5 — 10 

 fathoms, together with other algas {Delesseria sinuosa, Conferva melagonium and Phyllo- 

 phora interrupta). I cannot state positively that any single specimen of the many brought 

 home was fastened to any other alga; they seemed to have lain loose on the bottom in 

 the shape of somewhat flattened balls, or perhaps rather to have adhered originally to 

 fragments of an older frond, perhaps of the last year, from the margin of which they had 

 prolificated)), ^) The condition of another species, Desmarestia aculeata, seems to be 



1; J. G. Agardh, Spetsb. Alg. Till. p. 47. 

 2) J. G. Agardh, 1. cit. p. 46. 



K. Vet. Akad. Hendl. B. 20. N:o 5. 



