Page:Sea and River-side Rambles in Victoria.djvu/107

88 rapid decomposition and loss of color, the collector who, to a certain extent, will be dependent on drift weeds, must be up betimes in the morning to take advantage of such specimens as may have been driven in, either by the early tide, or are found floating in the pools which it has left; there are many species, however, which may be taken from the rocks on which they grow, and thus more favourable conditions be obtained, and good specimens of the Melanthalia will frequently be found so firmly imbedded in the sand, as only to be dislodged with difficulty. The roots and fronds of all Seaweeds should be carefully searched by aid of a pocket lens, for they are sure to yield some valuable objects for microscopic investigation, Membranipora, Laomedea, Plumularia, Sertularia, Campanularia, &c.

It will not require much practice to enable the amateur to discriminate between what is really worth culling from the dense heaps he will sometimes find on shore; those he selects may for a time be placed in a small gutta percha bag or covered basket, and on arriving home they should be carefully sorted before proceeding further; the species of some genera (as Sporochnus) decomposing other plants with which they may happen to come into contact. If it is intended to send specimens home, they may be spread out thinly to dry without squeezing or washing, until completely shrivelled, but sufficiently dry to prevent fermentation; the salt preserves them from decay, and keeps them by its slight deliquescence in a pliant state. If to forward through the post to a friend,