the Btitijh Fuci, with particular Descriptions of 'each Species. 89 



ject in confequence of Dr. Smith's mofc fortunate purchafc of the 

 Linnasan Mufeum, then fo many errors in the nomenclature have 

 been difcovered, fuch mifconceptions of Linnscus's dellgnation, and 

 fo many new fpecies found fince Mr. Hudfon wrote, that it was 

 in our judgment better to begin de novo, and to lay the whole 

 before our Society, drawn up afrefh, and containing complete de- 

 scriptions taken from the plants themfelves. 



The fructification of the Alg<v^ particularly of thofc called aqua- 

 ticrt, is the opprobrium botanicorum^ and indeed feems likely to con- 

 tinue fo. It may be afked, what advance has been made in the 

 knowledge of this particular tribe by any modern ? — Morifon's ob- 

 fervation furniihed him with almoft as much knowledge of the 

 fubject as is likely to be obtained, till a Hedwig {hall undertake to 

 illuftrate thefe plants alfo. Morifon's words are, ' If any one af- 

 ' ferts that the Algce are produced from feed, or fomething analo- 



* gous to it, I do not contradict him ; for in fomc plants there 

 ' feems fomething thick and tuberofe, adhering to the leaves them- 

 ' felves ; in others there appear fmall vcflels diftinct from the leaves 



* and the other parts, which however do not contain feeds dry and 

 1 hardened like thofe of land plants : but it is probable that a vif- 

 ' cous and vifcid humour (if it be merely a humour) is produced in 

 ' them endued with a feminal power, which dropping out of its 



* own accord, or wafhed out by the agitation of the fea, is carried 



* here and there, and is difleminated ; and then by virtue of its 



* mucilage flicks to rocks, ftones, ihells, and calcareous fubftances 

 ' with which it may meet, and, having found a proper receptacle, un- 

 ' folds the image of the future plant.' Perhaps glaflfes were not fo 

 much ufed in Morifon's time as at prefent, othervvife he would 

 have obferved feeds in thofe thick and tuberofe parts which he 

 mentions. Gmelin and Reaumur, who hazarded the moil decided 



Vol. III. N opinion 



