46 
THE GEELONG NATURALIST. 
remove, attach date of collection and locality, and name, and classify 
when convenient. 
At first you will probably get someone who knows to name and 
classify your specimens for you, and then you may venture to do this 
for yourself by comparing your specimens carefully with those in a 
private or public collection. But presently you will be ambitious to 
know why certain plants are given certain names; in other words, 
according to what plan or system Algae are named and classified, I 
have already mentioned that on the Victorian coast there are about 
450 varieties included in 180 genera. The classification of these is 
decided on three grounds. 1. — Their cellular structure ; 2. — Colour ; 
3. — Method of reproduction. 
All AlgiB are divided into three great classes : — The Olive-colored 
or Melanospermeoe ; the Red or Rose-colored or Rhodospermeoe ; the 
Green-colored or Chlorospermece. And here let me say, as in botany 
generally, these names, as also of the orders and genera and species 
are derived from the Greek. . This is the rule to which there are 
exceptions. 
Cuvier used words like the following concerning the fossil remains 
of animals : " Shew me a tooth, and I will indicate the general con- 
formation ; or describe the conformation and if the teeth be missing, I 
will at once pronounce what they should be like." So an experienced 
Algologist will tell the color of a sea-weed from its fructification, and 
similarly, will describe the fructification from its color. There is a 
direct relation between the color of a sea-weed and its mode of repro- 
duction. As with the land — the earth brings forth grass and herb 
jdelding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit whose seed is in 
itself, after his kind — so with the sea. 
The Melanospermece, Olive-colored, are of strong growth chiefly, 
and of leathery consistency, and most of them grow near the shore. 
There are 7 orders, 39 genera under this class, i.e. in Victoria, as 
already classified. 
The EhodospermecB or Red Sea-weeds, are more fragile and grow- 
in deep water or sheltered pools protected from waves and shaded from 
sunlight. There are 21 orders, 122 genera under this class. 
The CKlorospermece are found in deep w^ater and also on rocks laid 
bare by the receding tide; are more hardy and suffer nothing iby this 
constant exposure to wind and sunshine. Under this class there are 
4 orders, 16 genera. 
These last are the simplest and therefore the lowest forms of Alg«, 
as also by far the smallest in variety. 
The first mentioned are the most complex and therefore the highest 
forms. 
The lowest forms are reproduced by spores, like the seeds of 
plants. The highest forms by zoospores, like buds. But all may be 
regarded as made up of cells that separate spontaneously, and in course 
of time become independent plants. 
Diatoms were once supposed to belong to the animal kingdom, but 
are now classfied with the Algse, under the order Diatomacece. These 
Diatoms are composed of one cell, each having two valves. 
Most of the Algse are composed of a cell mass. Others of a cell- 
plate, such as the ulva. Others of a cqW Jilament such as Cladophora. 
