0B( [LLAT0B1 M B B. 199 



3, the filaments of which oscillate very vividly, is an 

 extremely interesting objecl under the microscope. The 

 curved ends of the filaments may then be seen fco more in 

 a spiral direction, showing that this is the reaJ motion of 

 the filaments, though they may appear to an inattentive 

 observer to have merely a waving Lateral movement. With- 

 out the sanction and kind assistance of Mr. Berkeley, I 

 should scarcely have ventured to describe this and the 

 i". >regoing species as new; hut he has kindly compared them 

 with authentic specimens in his own herbarium, and con- 

 siders them hitherto undescribecL" 



377. insignis (The remarkable Oscillatoria) \ stratum of a dark 

 brown, almost black colour ; filaments brown, of consider- 

 able diameter, their apices obtuse, slightly oblique, and ci- 

 liated ; Btriffl conspicuous, very close ; endochrome distinctly 

 granulose, ThmoaUes, Harv, Phyc. Brit. pl.251,C. (Atlas, 

 PL 1A.V1X. Fig. :;77.> 

 Hob. Tn a brackish ditch at Shirehampton, near BristoL 



"The cilia," says Mr. Thwaites, who discovered this 

 plant in the same locality as the two preceding, "which 

 terminate the filaments of this line species, are not pecu- 

 liar to it alone. Professor Kutzing has figured in his 

 'Phycologia Generalis' similar appendages to the filaments 

 of Oscillaria snbfusc<<, and has noted their occurrence in 

 another species. Careful observation shows thai these cilia 

 have no proper motion of their own, and therefore can ex- 

 no agency on the movements of the filaments: they 

 appear to be mere appendages, or terminations of the mem- 

 branous tube, and to perform no important function in the 

 economy of the plant. 1 



(VT. SIMIM'U.N A. 



378. tenuissima (The very slender SpiruUna) } "stratum very 

 Lubricous, eruginous, Bubradianl : filaments densely spiral, 

 Yu-v Blender, parallel, flexuous," A7-. Phyc, (>'<</. p, l v ;;. 

 (Atlas, PL LXXIX l _. 

 Hub. On decaying Algae in a brackish pool near the Bienai 

 Bridge, and on sticks in brackish pools at Penman Pool, 

 near Dolgelly. 

 Having never Been this plant in a living state, I prefer 

 giving Mr. Haifa's excellent description from the 'Annals 

 of Natural Bistory. 1 I am indebted to Dr. Dick 

 beautiful dried specimens, collected at Aberdeen, 



