78 REVIEWS. 



variety of beautiful aljrae. The water in these basins is always intensely trans- 

 parent ; the bottom frequently of white sand ; and the steep and craggy sides 

 clothed with algae vegetation, in which the brightest tints of green, purple, 

 carmine, and olive, and the most graceful waving forms, are mingled in rich 

 variety. Here is the favourite locality of some eight or ten species of Caulerpa, 

 of several very distinct forms, and every one a beautiful object. All these are 

 green ; but the tints vary from the darkest bottle-green to the pale, fresh green 

 of an opening beech leaf. Some resemble soft ostrich feathers ; others, branches 

 of the Norfolk Island pine ; others, strings of beads ; others, squirrels' or cats' 

 tails ; and C. scalpelliformis is like a double saw. Under the shelter of the 

 Caulerpa the smaller Rhodosperms (such as Dasyce and Cattithamnia) are often 

 found. But these are most numerous on the perpendicular sides of the border reefs, 

 where also rich meadows of Caulerpa are seen waving in the clear water, from a 

 foot beneath the surface to a considerable depth. Various Fucoidece and Ecklonia 

 radiata are scattered here and there through the deeper pools, and on the sides 

 of the reef. None of these are ever left dry at low water. In many places a 

 profusion of a Bryopsis (J3. Australis) enlivens the rocks with its silky tufts of 

 green, each tuft separate from its neighbour. Some of the shallower reefs, near 

 high-water mark, are partially covered with sand ; and this is the habitat of 

 Penicillus arbuscula, a little green Alga, which may be compared either to a 

 miniature tree, or to a shaving-brush. Struvea plumosa abounds on all the 

 reefs, at about half- tide level, generally growing on the very edges of the rock- 

 pools and border reefs. I obtained from Mr. Stanford, Colonial Secretary, a 

 specimen of a new Struvea, sent by Mrs. Drummond from Champion Bay, 

 differing from S. plumosa in its vastly larger size, and more compound network. 

 The specimen has been bleached white, and in this state strongly resembles a 

 beautiful pattern of old point- lace, and might be made into ladies' collars, as it is 

 of a tough substance." 



The catalogue contains 352 species, of which 277 appear peculiar to 

 the Australasian flora, and 75 either to pelagic species or to more or less 

 distant botanical regions ; these may be grouped as follows : 



Whole number collected. Australian. 



Ser. 1. Melanospermeae ... 42 ... 26 



2. Rhodospermeae ... 270 ... 216 



3. Chlorospermeae ... 40 ... 35 



352 277 



In reviewing the algae collected in this tour, not the least interesting 

 feature is the comparison of the connecting links which may be traced, 

 showing affinity with the vegetation of other coasts. 27 species, common 

 to both the British Islands and Western Australia, have been observed by 

 Dr. Harvey ; for an enumeration of these, as well as those which associate 

 this very rich marine flora with other lands, we must refer our readers to 

 the pages of a memoir which, like everything that has issued from the 

 same pen, will be gladly received by all who feel an interest in the subject 

 of which it treats. Our regret at the brief way some points are touched 

 upon is, however, removed by the promise of copious descriptions, and a 

 fuller memoir, on its author's return to Europe, when we hope to call our 

 readers' attention to the result of his labours. 



