110 
OF THE CHARACEiE. 
come across small portions of other species, proving that 
the latter grow somewhere in the neighbourhood and may 
he got at by diligent search. Not unfrequently several 
species grow together in a single colony ; or again numerous 
kinds may flourish in distant parts of the same piece of 
water, requiring close observation on the part of the 
intelligent botanist, who will not be content with securing 
a solitary specimen, but will take a careful survey of the 
banks step by step. He will bear in mind, too, that in this 
order several species bear a close resemblance to each 
other, while they are wet ; whereas, on being dried, which 
speedily takes place on being exposed to the air, the specific 
differences are easily seen, as they depend mainly on the 
manner in which the tubular stem is formed. 
The first step to be taken in preparing the Characese for 
the herbarium is to lay the larger masses on a table, divide 
them into smaller portions, and then extract the individual 
plants. I recommend this being done on a table and not 
in water, because the plants we are dealing with have a 
strong tendency to intertwine their branches, especially if 
there is any movement ; and this is almost unavoidable in 
the fluid on which they rest. 
The separate specimens may now be dropped into a 
basin of water, those only having been selected which are 
furnished with root, stem, and branches ; for, as in the case 
of the Phanerogamia, those examples only should be pre- 
served which give a true picture of the whole plant. No 
mere fragment, however pretty to look at, is, under ordinary 
circumstances, worth the attention of the botanist. 
Now let a piece of stout paper of the proper size be 
inserted under the Chara, and let the latter be drawn over 
it root foremost. The only further care necessary is to 
draw the paper slowly out of the water, and with a blunt 
needle re-arrange any branches which may have been dis- 
placed. Leave the paper undisturbed for a short time to 
let the water drain off, then lay it on some sheets of blot- 
ting paper, and cover it with stearine paper. This may be 
