OF THE FILAMENTOUS ALG.E. 65 



Those species which inhabit stagnant water throw out 

 numerous filaments, which becoming more or less en- 

 tangled and interwoven, cling together in cottony tufts. 

 The generality of these, when quite young (Spirogyra, 

 for instance) form a thick layer at the bottom of the water, 

 or at any rate float at some depth below the surface. At 

 a later season, however, when the plant is preparing for 

 fructification, or when, in consequence of its active vege- 

 tative powers, a large amount of oxygen is generated, then 

 the plant rises to the top of the water, and covers a wide 

 space with its outspread filaments. 



To collect these species, the only instrument necessary 

 is the toothed ladle, attached to a walking-stick. By means 

 of this any quantity of the weed may be fished out, by 

 simply moving the stick from right to left, the filaments 

 catching in the teeth of the ladle and being retained there. 



When the Alga lies near the bank, it can, of course, 

 be gathered with the hand. If, on the contrary, its 

 masses float a long distance off, too far to be reached by 

 the stick, another plan must be resorted to. This simply 

 consists in removing the wooden handle and then tying 

 the ladle to a piece of string of sufficient length. The 

 1 idle may now be thrown among the weeds, and on being 

 drawn in some of them are almost sure to be clinging to 

 it. The plan may not be successful at first, but I have 

 invariably found that perseverance will bring success. 

 Even at long distances and in deep waters I have rarely 

 been disappointed of the coveted treasures. 



Let the water drain off before the specimen is put away 

 in oilskin, and the draining may be aided by a gentle 

 pressure of the hand; but the collector must be careful 

 not to squeeze it too hard, for if he does he will lose what 

 Diatomacese may be entangled in it ; and, besides, the Alga 

 itself soon dies and corrupts when robbed of its natural 

 element. 



A pleasing contrast to these entangled masses are the 

 graceful feathery plumes which distinguish the species 



F 



