154 Directions for preserving Sea Plants. 



extremely closely to paper, and is very easily preserved. One speci- 

 men, about three inches long- and two broad, of an obovate form, has 

 its margin fringed with nearly fifty lobes, each on a narrow foot- 

 stalk, and having so formal an appearance as rather to resemble a 

 work of art than of nature. These lobes are generally circular, 

 though some are ovate, and others obovate, and in width from the 

 diameter of a pea or less, to that of a sixpence, the smaller ones oc- 

 cupying the torn edges of the frond. 



Odonihalia dentata. — Common, is very easily spread, but when 

 nearly dry the main stem contracts and separates from the paper, es- 

 pecially in old plants. The extremities of the fronds, however, some- 

 times adhere very well. 



Laurencia pinnatifida. — When recent is rigid and cartilaginous, 

 but soon gets flaccid in fresh water, and gives out much mucus and 

 colouring matter. If allowed to remain too long in maceration it 

 becomes almost gelatinous, and will then require to be nearly dry by 

 exposure to air, before it is submitted to pressure, when it must 

 be very often changed to prevent adhesion. The var. (3. (Fucua 

 osmunda, Gmel.) is not very frequent on our coast, though very fine 

 specimens are occasionally thrown ashore. The other varieties are as 

 common as on most coasts. In spreading variety (3. it will be often 

 necessary to cut away such superfluous branches, as if retained would 

 encumber the specimen, and give it an indistinct and confused appear- 

 ance. One very important part, indeed, of the art of preserving marine 

 plants is to sufficiently prune luxuriant specimens. Ptilota plumosa, 

 for instance, is often so luxuriant on our coast, that unless much 

 thinned it would form on paper a confused and unsightly mass.* The 

 same remark will apply to several other species. 



Laurencia obtusa. — I have now found this species on the Antrim 

 coast, north of Belfast Lough, and there, I believe, it only grows on 

 the county Down side, though detached specimens are not unfre- 

 quently thrown on the opposite. About Bangor it is not uncommon, 

 growing in pools of sea water. It is best preserved by letting it be 

 nearly dry before it is pressed. 



Cliylocladia clavellosa. — Common in Belfast Lough, and on the 

 Antrim coast, and of very large size ; should be nearly quite dry be- 

 fore it is submitted to pressure. 



Chylocladia ovalis. — I never found this species till June last, when 



* This practice may be useful when preserving specimens for examination ; in 



other cases the character of the species will be entirely lost Eds. 



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