110 OF THE CHAR ACE JE. 



come across small portions of other species, proving that 

 the latter grow somewhere in the neighbourhood and may 

 be got at by diligent search. Not unfrequently several 

 tspecies grow together in a single colony ; or again numerous 

 kinds may flourish in distant parts of the same piece of 

 water, requiring close observation on the part of the 

 intelligent botanist, who will not be content with securing 

 a solitary specimen, but will take a careful survey of the 

 banks step by step. He will bear in mind, too, that in this 

 order several species bear a close resemblance to each 

 other, while they are wet ; whereas, on being dried, which 

 speedily takes place on being exposed to the air, the specific 

 differences are easily seen, as they depend mainly on the 

 manner in which the tubular stem is formed. 



The first step to be taken in preparing the Characege for 

 the herbarium is to lay the larger masses on a table, divide 

 them into smaller portions, and then extract the individual 

 plants. I recommend this being done on a table and not 

 in water, because the plants we are dealing with have a- 

 strong tendency to intertwine their branches, especially if 

 there is any movement ; and this is almost unavoidable in 

 the fluid on which they rest. 



The separate specimens may now be dropped into a 

 basin of water, those only having been selected which are 

 furnished with root, stem, and branches ; for, as in the case 

 of the Phanerogamia, those examples only should be pre- 

 served which give a true picture of the whole plant. No 

 mere fragment, however pretty to look at, is, under ordinary 

 circumstances, worth the attention of the botanist. 



Now let a piece of stout paper of the proper size be 

 inserted under the Chara, and let the latter be drawn over 

 it root foremost. The only further care necessary is to 

 draw the paper slowly out of the water, and with a blunt 

 needle re-arrange any branches which may have been dis- 

 placed. Leave the paper undisturbed for a short time to 

 let the water drain off, then lay it on some sheets of blot- 

 ting-paper, and cover it with Ltearine paper. This may be 



