COLLECTING 15 
corresponding with the note-book. Names written with lead- 
pencil on a slip of paper will not be defaced by or injure the 
alcohol. Collections when arranged permanently should be 
placed in glass jars, the species being kept separate. 
COLLECTING AND PRESERVING SEAWEEDS 
To collect seaweeds one must search for them on rocks, in 
tide-pools, in the sea-wrack upon the beach, on piles of wharves, 
on eel-grass, and on the surface of incoming waves. It is well to 
follow the receding tide and take advantage of its lowest ebb 
(especially of that of the spring-tides, as mentioned above) to 
search the extreme limit of the beach in the short time it is 
exposed. Many of the red seaweeds are found there. 
The equipment for collecting consists of a basket, two small 
tin pails, one small enough to be carried within the other, a staff 
with an iron edge at one end and a small net at the other, and a 
pocket-lens. Rockweeds (Fucus) or other coarse gelatinous sea- 
weeds should be put into the basket. The pails, half filled with 
sea-water, will receive the other specimens, fine and delicate alge 
being put into the smaller pail. It is well to have a second small 
receptacle for Callithamnion and Griffithsia, if one can be further 
burdened. Desmarestia should be kept apart, if possible, since it 
discolors and decomposes other alge; it should also have the 
earliest attention when the time comes for mounting, and salt 
water should be used for floating it upon the mount, otherwise 
the beauty of the specimen will be impaired. 
Besides its use as a support, the staff is needed to dislodge 
specimens from the rocks, and the net to secure those that are 
floating just out of reach. When possible, it is desirable to secure 
the whole plant, including the holdfast, and to gather several 
plants of the same species, since they vary with age and other 
conditions, and it is also well to have duplicates for exchange. 
It is particularly desirable to obtain plants which are in fruit. 
Each specimen as it is taken should be rinsed in the sea-water to 
free it from sand. 
Collections should be mounted as soon as convenient, and 
