456 : General Notes. 
individuals in America up to recent years; but it is evident that 
these plants abound in our waters, and that our Chara-flora is 
varied and strongly characterized. Probably not one-half of the 
American species have as yet been brought to light, but it is confi- 
dently anticipated that a better knowledge of their structure and 
classification will result in a more widespread interest in them. 
ese plants, often delicate or brittle from an incrustation of 
lime, are easily destroyed by waves, so that they are rarely found 
on exposed shores, unless in water deep enough to be beyond the 
reach of the surface movements. They flourish best in sheltered 
bays and smaller ponds, especially if a tolerably uniform level of 
water be maintained. Great changes of level are destructive, alike 
to species that love the sun and grow in shallow water, and those 
that hide away in the depths. It is rare, therefore, that Chara- 
hunting is. profitable in ponds or lakes which feed canals or factories. 
One prefers the land-locked sheets of water fed by springs, especially 
if there be a sandy bottom. Temperature has but little influence 
upon them, though the South has its distinctive species, as well as 
the North. One species, at least, Chara fragilis, is universal, 
found in every country and clime, in ice water at the North, and 
in the hot springs of the Yellowstone, “ hot enough to cook an egg 
in four minutes.” 
The best condition of the plant for examination is when it has 
mature fruit. The time at which this occurs is usually late sum- 
mer or early fall, though a few species mature early in the spring, 
and die off in summer. At the South the species are often in g 
condition the year round, the old fruit holding on, even after new 
shoots have started from the old nodes. 
To gather Characee successfully a dredge must be used ; for 
shallow water a small fine-toothed rake is preferred, but for deeper 
water (one rarely finds them at a greater depth than ten feet) the 
dredge and line are essential. The best dredge for all purposes 1s 
the one recommended by Professor Nordstedt, made as follows : — 
A disk of lead about three inches in diameter and three-fourths 
of an inch thick has imbedded in its circumference a row of hooks, 
about ten in number ; through the centre of this disk is passed an 
iron rod, which projects about three inches below the disk and 
about nine inches above; to the ring in the upper end toward 
which the points of the hooks are directed a cord is attached. The 
dredge weighs about two and a half pounds, and catches all sorts 
of “ weeds” growing on the bottom. : 
The dissection of these plants is perfectly simple. The delicate 
species are placed in water until their normal form is resto (if 
they have been dried), and a portion is put in a “cell” on a glass 
slide and examined under a two-inch objective; sometimes, but 
rarely, a higher power is needed for determining fine points, such 
as the structure of the cortex.’ 
Should the species be incrusted with lime, a piece should be 
