INTRODUCTION. 17 



dition, or if they are, do not long remain so. This 

 therefore is by far the best place to take many of 

 these plants. To do this you must be provided 

 with some simple instrument for reaching down into 

 the water, and seize them as they go floating by. 

 I have found nothing more convenient for this than 

 a wire skimmer, which can be got at any house- 

 furnishing tin shop, tied with a stout string to a 

 light strong stick five or six feet long. The water 

 passes through the meshes of this with little resist- 

 ance, but the Alga, with its delicate branches thrown 

 out widely in every direction, is very readily caught 

 by it. It wiE also serve to a limited extent as an 

 implement for detaching plants from their holdings, 

 which grow in deep tide pools, or in the sea, not 

 too far below low water mark. For the rest of your 



COLLECTING APPARATUS 



you may have as little or as much as is convenient. 

 A simple basket, or box, with a few newspapers in 

 it, to wrap up and keep somewhat separate the 

 different sorts of your collectings, wiU do very well. 

 If it is convenient, have a case made with a half 

 dozen or less wide-mouthed botdes set in it, each 

 provided witii a cork. The case should also have 

 a compartment for storing coarse plants, newspapers, 

 paper bags, or whatever you may use for keeping 



