OF THE ALCLE GENERALLY. 
9 
going on an expedition without being provided with both 
the one and the other. The former especially is indis- 
pensable to the Algologist, as it forms a ready handle for 
his ladle and sieve. 
With these few instruments the collector of Algaa is 
prepared for his outdoor work. A tin vasculum, such as 
is commonly used in gathering Phanerogamia, need not 
be rejected ; still it is by no means a necessity, because 
the Algee are sufficiently protected by the waterproof paper 
or sheeting. Nor are they of the same fragile nature 
as the higher plants. Besides, a considerable portion will 
be contained in the bottles. At the same time, however 
carried, care must of course be taken not to squeeze the 
specimens too closely together. 
As soon as the stock of specimens is brought home, the 
first business of the collector will be to place them (each 
species by itself, as far as may be) in glasses of water 
(which should be, if possible, quite soft), in order to keep 
them fresh until he is prepared to examine them. Many 
species may be preserved in this way for several days 
without spoiling, especially if the water in which they are 
placed be in some quantity, and is changed every day. 
Others however, the Vaucherke for instance, perish very 
quickly, and cannot be preserved for long. These there- 
fore must be attended to first. But even when any of 
these are completely lost, it is well not to throw them 
away until they have been carefully searched for Diato- 
macea3, many of which will survive the decay of the plants 
to which they were clinging when first removed from the 
water. A small quantity of muriatic acid may be poured 
into the glass, as this has a tendency to check putridity, 
and then the Diatomacese may be separated at leisure. 
If from want of time, distance from home, or any like 
cause, the specimens collected cannot be at once prepared, 
the best plan is to place them in a bottle, and pour over 
them a quantity of gin, which may be procured almost 
anywhere. It is true the alcohol destroys the colour of 
