94 OF THE MARINE ALG^E. 



the water across the edge of the plate. If this be done 

 deliberately and without undue precipitation, the tiniest 

 even of the branchlets and filaments will fall one after the 

 other into their proper place. 



Excellent as this plan is in its results, there is no doubt 

 that it calls for a large amount of patience and foresight, 

 and takes a good deal of time to carry out properly. Indeed, 

 so much of its ultimate success depends upon the perfect 

 quietude of the materials under operation, that not un- 

 frequently an unlucky jerk of the arm or an ill-timed blow 

 on the table will send the water streaming in the wrong 

 direction, and mar the whole proceeding. I will therefore 

 give another method, which, although its results are not 

 more pleasing to the eye, is certainly much more easily 

 carried out, and therefore less trying to the young student's 

 peace of mind. 



According to this plan, the paper, with the specimen on 

 it, is drawn out of the plate and laid on a small tin dish, 

 the bottom of which has been previously overlaid with j{ 

 piece of paper of about the size of the object to be operated 

 on. Two of these tin dishes should be provided, of dif- 

 ferent sizes — the cost is a mere trifle — one measuring 

 about fourteen inches by nine inches, and the other and 

 smaller nine inches by five inches — each having the edges 

 turned up say half an inch, so as to retain the water. 

 The only other requisite is a small glass syringe, such as is 

 used for medicinal purposes, and which may be purchased 

 for a few pence at almost any glass or chemist's shop. 

 With this last instrument pour a gentle stream of water 

 over the Alga as it lies in the dish, and continue to do so 

 until the smaller filaments and pinnules begin to float — the 

 stem and main branches, from their superior weight, still 

 resting on the paper. It is an easy task now to insert a 

 needle among the floating ramifications, and not merely 

 reduce them to order, but bring them as nearly as possible 

 into the same position they were wont to have when in 

 their natural localities. The most delicate branchlets of 



