366 EXPLOEATOEY NOTICES FOE AUGUST. 



about and in fragments upon the sea beach. Prom their 

 colour and delicacy of structure, they are often highly 

 beautiful. Laurencia pinnatifida is a common species 

 frequently to be found, cartilaginous, and of a purplish 

 red ; and Delesseria sanguinea, almost as common, 

 shows itself as a beautiful crimson plant bearing 

 numerous transversely veined leaves of a similar 

 colour, and delicately membranous substance. CJion- 

 drus crispus (the Irish moss of the shops), may be 

 frequently found on rocky shores. It is of a horny 

 substance, flat and crisp, repeatedly forked at the 

 extremities, and of various pale shades of purple or 

 green. 



Most persons bring a Fucus, of some species, as a 

 memento from the coast, and this, hung up, acts as an 

 indicative hygrometer. To the zoologist the fuci are, 

 by means, inutile. Dr. JOHISTSTONE has remarked of 

 the edible kind (Alaria esculent a) : that " during storms 

 great numbers of this large species are torn from the 

 rocks and cast on shore, bearing with them a rich 

 harvest to the naturalist. In the crevices of the 

 matted roots, shells and worms, of various kinds and 

 singular structure, find shelter, or a secure place for 

 constructing their furrows ; and many elegant coral- 

 lines spring up between them, to appearance trees in 

 miniature, but, in reality, cities fuH of living inhabi- 

 tants. The more delicate and richly coloured Sea- 

 weeds are parasitical on the stem ; while the broad 

 frond affords an ample field for many pretty shell-fish 

 to feed and course upon."* 



As a proof of what may be effected by industry and 

 observation, Dr. HAEYET refers to the Algae Danmo- 



* Flora of Berwick-upon -Tweed. 



