220 
BULLETIN OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
viscera of fishes, Molluscs and Echinoderms, but soundings, 
dredgings and plankton gatherings from all parts of Passama- 
quoddy Bay, about the Western Isles and Grand Manan. Many 
gatherings were also made from the bottom and shores of the 
lower St. John and Kennebecasis rivers, from the wharves in 
St. John Harbour and Courtenay Bay, and finally about St. 
Martins. To these were added interesting collections, made by 
Dr. Baxter, from buoys in Miramichi Bay. So that, taken 
together, we have in them a very fair representation of the 
characteristic forms of the New Brunswick seaboard, especially 
in its southern portions. 
It is the hope of the writer that by presenting in this and 
subsequent articles the results of his studies of these lowly 
organisms he may not only add an interesting chapter to our 
knowledge of the flora of the Province, but also lead other 
observers to take up a study which, besides being of economic 
importance, never fails to fascinate those who, with proper 
equipment, enter upon it. He proposes, therefore, in addition 
to giving lists of the species observed, to represent by figures the 
more common and typical species of the different genera, with 
brief descriptions of their character and distribution. Later 
this may be followed by similar articles upon the fresh-water 
Diatoms and those which, under the names of Tripolite and 
Infusorial Earth, are often found constituting the bottom of 
lakes and ponds. 
To make the subject intelligible to beginners a few words 
are necessary as to the structure and life history of Diatoms. 
If the reader will take the trouble to glance at the accom- 
panying plates he will get a good idea of their general 
appearance. They exhibit great variety of form, including 
shapes which are linear, bacillar, ovoid, circular, triangular, 
quadrangular, sigmoid, crescentic, boat-like, wedge-like and 
others. As a rule they are remarkable for their beauty of out- 
line and also for their perfect symmetry. In addition to their 
exquisite shapes, which often suggest artistic patterns, their 
beauty is greatly enhanced by the marvellous details of their 
