The Diatomaceæ of Philadelphia and VicinityBoyer, Charles S. (Charles Sumner)
Science
The Diatomaceæ of Philadelphia and Vicinity
Boyer, Charles S. (Charles Sumner)
Diatoms -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
_Collection of Fresh-water Material._--The yellow film on the inside of
aquaria always contains small species. Stems of water-plants near the
shores of ponds and the submerged roots, the brownish coating of rocks in
streams and water-falls, fountains, and water-troughs, are prolific. At all
times of the year, some diatoms may be found in a thin layer upon the mud
of rivers or creeks. In the spring, brown patches of mud, filled with
bubbles, floating near the shore in ponds, or coming down with the current
in rivers, are rich in various forms. Within the limits assigned to our
district, I have made collections in the following localities: Schuylkill
River, including the region near Fairmount Dam, several reservoirs and the
water-supply; the Wissahickon and Fairmount Park, Darby, Crum and Ridley
Creeks, the Neshaminy and the Brandywine; meadow pools and rivulets near
the city; the upper Delaware, the Water Gap and numerous cascades
northward; the Shawangunk Mountains and the Poconos; many parts of New
Jersey along the coast; the Pine Barren region, the Hammonton, Atsion and
Kirkwood Ponds and the swamps near Atco.
In the collection of fresh-water material, it is well to be provided with a
number of small bottles. Take a handful of the water-plants or algæ, and
squeeze the material into the bottles, or, lacking a bottle, wrap it in
paper. With a small forceps it is possible to detach minute quantities of a
pure gathering which may not need further preparation beyond burning to a
red heat on the cover-glass before mounting. A malacca cane, with extending
rod to which may be screwed a bottle, net, spoon or hook, is useful on a
long trip. If it is impossible to separate the thin film of diatoms from
the mud in the bed of streams, dip up the surface mud with one bottle,
allow to settle a few minutes, then pour off the supernatant liquid, which
will be comparatively free from sand, into another bottle. It must be
confessed, however, that the mud in streams near Philadelphia contains a
large quantity of fine mica which, in some instances, it is impossible to
remove.
_Collection of Marine Material._--Shell scrapings, the stomachs of fish,
marine algæ, especially the brown and red algæ, the hulls of vessels, mud
from anchors and dredgings, are all sources which may prove valuable. In
the sand ripples, after the tide recedes, a yellowish-brown deposit will be
noticed. This should be taken up carefully with a spoon and placed in a
bottle; the sand will settle at once and a very pure gathering will be held
in suspension in the water. Such collections may be made along the entire
coast of New Jersey on sunny days in summer. In salt meadows near Absecon
and Hackensack, large quantities of diatoms, including Pleurosigma, may be
obtained in the yellow scum floating on the surface.
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