CHONDRUS. 433 



exposing only to the feeblest light. To examine the external 

 morphology of any alga, the specimens should be placed in a 

 shallow white dish, and again kept covered over with sea water. 



Before mounting specimens for the herbarium they 

 should be soaked for a few minutes in fresh spring water 

 to remove as much as possible of the common salt present. 

 The phycoerythrin of the Floridese being soluble in fresh 

 water, too long an immersion in fresh water would destroy 

 their colour. After being washed the plant should be put 

 between sheets of blotting paper, or better, some kind of 

 filter paper. I find that so-called common German filter 

 paper answers very well indeed. This paper is very much 

 tougher than most kinds of blotting paper, and also a 

 good deal cheaper. A board is put on to the top of the 

 drying paper, and this is weighted down by a few not too 

 heavy stones. In the case of certain algse, which are more 

 delicate than Chondrus cris/ius, it will be necessary to float 

 them out in fresh water on to a piece of white foolscap 

 paper. They will usually be found to stick naturally to 

 the paper they have been mounted on. To prevent their 

 sticking to the filter paper some fine muslin is interposed 

 between them and the drying paper. When the plants 

 have been pressed for a few days, with a daily change of 

 the paper and muslin, the weights may be removed for 

 twelve hours to allow the air to circulate more freely for 

 drying purposes. All the specimens should be carefully 

 labelled with the name, locality, date, and any short 

 remarks which may seem necessary. 



To examine any material under the microscope, it 

 should be cut as fresh as possible, and examined in sea 

 water. Transverse and longitudinal sections of every part of 

 the plant should be cut with a razor, with or without 

 clamping the material in pith. The section should then 

 be mounted and examined in sea water. Fresh 



