GF THE ALGiE GENERALLY. \) 



going on an expedition without being provided with both 

 the one and the other. The former especially is indis- 

 pensable to the Algologist, as it forms a ready handle for 

 his ladle and sieve. 



With these few instruments the collector of Algae is 

 prepared for his outdoor work. A tin vaseulum, such as 

 is commonly used in gathering Phanerogamia, need not 

 be rejected ; still it is by no means a necessity, because 

 the Algae are sufficiently protected by the waterproof paper 

 or sheeting. Nor are they of the same fragile nature 

 as the higher plants. Besides, a considerable portion will 

 be contained in the bottles. At the same time, however 

 carried, care must of course be taken not to squeeze the 

 specimens too closely together. 



As soon as the stock of specimens is brought home, the 

 first business of the collector will be to place them (each 

 species by itself, as far as may be) in glasses of water 

 (which should be, if possible, quite soft), in order to keep 

 them fresh until he is prepared to examine them, Many 

 species may be preserved in this way for several days 

 without spoiling, especially if the water in which they are 

 placed be in some quantity, and is changed every day. 

 Others however, the Vaucheriae for instance, perish very 

 quickly, and cannot be preserved for long. These there- 

 fore must be attended to first. But even when any of 

 these are completely lost, it is well not to throw them 

 away until they have been carefully searched for Diato- 

 maceae, many of which will survive the decay of the plants 

 to which they were clinging when first removed from the 

 water. A small quantity of muriatic acid may be poured 

 into the glass, as this has a tendency to check putridity, 

 and then the Diatomaceae may be separated at leisure. 



If from want of time, distance from home, or any like 

 cause, the specimens collected cannot be at once prepared, 

 the best plan is to place them in a bottle, and pour over 

 them a quantity of gin, which may be procured almost 

 anywhere. It is true the alcohol destroys the colour of 



