EXPLOKATORY NOTICES FOB ATJGTJST. 367 



nienses, published and sold by Mary Wyatt, Dealer in 

 Shells, Torquay; which is a work of four volumes, 

 composed of 234 actual specimens of as many species 

 of Sea- Weeds, all beautifully dried, and correctly 

 named. For a lady residing near the sea shore, the 

 formation of a volume of this description is a most 

 elegant, and cannot fail to prove a most interesting 

 occupation. How delightful it is on the still calm 

 day of an ebb-tide, to watch the green isolated pools, 

 left among the dark rocks, all teeming with life. The 

 transparent water shows the Star-fish slowly moving 

 its flabby fingers along the bottom ; the Actinia is 

 putting forth all its tentacula ; while thickets of Sea- 

 weed, of various tints, wave their arms with solemn 

 motion, as if measuring the time for the return of the 

 tidal wave : 



" The wild wave's thunder on the shore, 



The curlew's restless cries, 

 Unto the watching heart are more 

 Than all earth's melodies." * 



The Porphyra laciniata and vulgaris, from the thin 

 substance of their shining purple fronds, present an 

 interesting and beautiful aspect when covering rocks 

 with their glossy puckered and waved investiture. 

 These fronds are extensively collected in South "Wales, 

 and when stewed down and reduced to a black pulp, 

 are brought to market under the name of laver. This 

 is considered a good sauce to mutton, and is even by 

 itself thought to be good eating ~by those who are used 

 to it ! 



* Mrs. HEMANS. 



