70 
OF THE FILAMENTOUS ALGAL 
being placed in a vessel of water, will spread themselves 
out ; and in this they may be assisted by passing a needle 
several times through their entire length from base to tip. 
Let the paper be raised very slowly through the water on 
the left hand, while the root end of the plant is held firmly 
with the right. If the paper be slightly shaken, the fila- 
ments will expand themselves still more fully, and will be 
prevented from rolling into a thick cord-like tuft along the 
middle of the paper, as so often happens when the hand is 
raised too suddenly from the water. 
Auerswald recommends a thin metal plate in lieu of the 
hand for lifting the plants from the basin. As regards the 
smaller specimens, my own experience is not in favour of 
this plan, because one can regulate the draining off of the 
water so much more easily with the fingers than with any 
mechanical appliance. With the larger Alga?, on the con- 
trary, I have found it an admirable method, as the flatness 
of the plate prevents the paper from falling into folds and 
wrinkles. If a metal plate is not at hand, the cover of a 
cigar-box or any thin flat piece of wood makes an ex- 
cellent substitute. 
The fronds of Draparnaldia and Stigeoclonium (it is well 
to bear in mind) are too delicate to allow of their being 
subjected to the press. Their filaments, after being removed 
from the water, may be still further arranged by the aid of 
a needle and hair pencil, and then the specimen should be 
put on one side to dry. 
Some species of Cladophora, which grow to a great 
length, cannot be laid on paper of a manageable size. It is 
best in this case to give the plant a serpentine motion as it 
is being lifted from the water. It can thus be laid without 
difficulty along the edge of the sheet in an undulating 
manner, then covered with the stearine paper, and pressed 
as usual. In this way, at least one preparation may be 
made, which comes within the compass of a sheet of paper, 
and yet represents fairly the natural habit of the plant. 
The Zygnemacea?, as previously mentioned, cannot be 
