THE MARINE ALG^ OF NEW ENGLAND. 23 



of rock- weed. For mounting the smaller species one should have two 

 or three shallow dishes of salt water, in which the plants are to be 

 washed and floated out, and a deep basin of either salt or fresh water, 

 as the case may be, for mounting. A zinc tank, one of whose sides is 

 slanting, is convenient for mounting, but is rather an awkward thing 

 to carry about in travelling. The specimens to be mounted are put into 

 the basin and floated out ; a piece of paper is slipped under them and 

 they are lifted out of the water. A moderately thick unglazed paper is 

 best for mounting, although almost any kind will do, provided it is not 

 very thin. Many ladies make use of photographer's cards. 



With a little practice it is perfectly easy to remove sea- weeds from 

 the water, but to prevent the specimen slipping off the paper or to one 

 side of the paper it is best to put the middle finger under the center of 

 the paper and raise it so that the water drains off equally on all sides. 

 Some slip a pane of glass under the paper, and lift it out of the water 

 in that way. The papers should then be left in an inclined position for 

 a short time, so that the superfluous water may run off. They are then 

 to be put on the driers and covered with a piece of muslin or other thin 

 white cloth, from which the glazing has been removed by washing. Very 

 gelatinous specimens should be exposed for some time to the air before 

 pressing. The driers should be of bibulous paper and the best material, 

 but unfortunately the most expensive, is thick white blotting-paper. 

 The specimens are to be laid on the paper and covered with a cloth, 

 and then another layer of paper is placed above, and so on. The best 

 form of press is a board with a number of stones for weights. The 

 driers should be changed morning and night until the specimens are 

 dry. Some of the smaller species dry in a few hours j others re- 

 quire two or three days. G-reat pressure is to be avoided, and the 

 specimens, if prepared in fresh water, should not be allowed to remain 

 long in the water. Most small species adhere to the papers naturally ; 

 others require to be fastened with gum. Besides mounting specimens 

 on paper, it is a very good plan to prepare specimens of fruit or any 

 small filamentous species on pieces of mica or glass. Fragments of 

 mica good enough for the purpose can be obtained for a very small 

 sum of those who manufacture air-tight stoves. Specimens prepared on 

 mica can be moistened and at once used for microscopic study. All 

 really microscopic forms, such as Glceocapsa, Clathrocystis, &c, had better 

 be mounted on mica or glass than on paper. A difficulty is experienced 

 in preparing corallines and other calcareous forms. If prepared in the 

 same way as other sea-weeds, they become very brittle, and are often 

 ruined by transportation. Various means have been devised for making 

 them less brittle — such as painting them with a thin solution of gum. 

 A better method is to paint them with a hot solution of isinglass which 

 has been boiled for a few moments in alcohol. The habit may be pre- 

 served, although the structure is somewhat injured, by immersing coral- 



