of Conferva refembles it. No root, however, has yet been detected, nor any 

 folid body within the mafs, to which the filaments might originally have been 

 attached. The mode of ramification feems fomewhat uncertain, but the 

 branches and ramuli are principally difpofed on one fide; they are always 

 ftraight, and their apices are regularly obtufe. The length of the joints is 

 about equal to three times their diameter; in a recent ftate they are perfectly 

 cylindrical; but, when dried, the green matter collapfes as in moft others of 

 this tribe, and never afterwards recovers itfelf by immerfion. The colour of 

 this plant is a dark, but pleafant, green, deftitute of glofs. In drying it does 

 not in the lead adhere to either glafs or paper. It is fufficiently known that it 

 derives its fpecific name from its refemblance to die hairy balls found in the 

 ftomachs of goats. For the fpecimen here figured I am indebted to my ex- 

 cellent friend, Mr. Brodie. 



Many Botanifts have been led into error refpecYmg C. ^Egagropila, from the 

 circumftance of fragments of C. capillaris being occafionally found rolled up by 

 the tide fo as greatly to refemble that fpecies at firft fight, though it can fcarcely 

 be neceffary to fay that the difference may immediately be detected on looking 

 more clofely at them. Of thefe I have feen vaft numbers at different times on 

 the fhores of the river at Yarmouth, but they are by no means of frequent occur- 

 rence. Is it poffible that C. ^Egagropila itfelf fhould derive its globular form 

 from a fimilar circumftance? T. 



A. C. segagropila, natural fize. 



B. A branch, magnified 4. 



C. A portion of ditto 2. 



