48 THE OCEAN. 



divided into numerous irregular strips; it is endowed 

 with the power of renewing its frond if the latter 

 be accidentally destroyed. Mr. Johns observes,* 

 that of all the various kinds of sea-weeds thrown 

 on shore during a storm, Tangles are the most abun- 

 dant: a fact which he explains by the ravages of 

 a species of limpet {Patella l&vis) upon their stems 

 and rootlets. When cooked, the young stalks are 

 said to be not unpleasant, and they are boiled and 

 given to cattle. But, as we are informed by Mr. 

 Neill, "in Scotland the stems are sometimes put to 

 rather an unexpected use, the making of knife- 

 handles. A pretty thick stem is selected, and cut 

 into pieces about four inches long. Into these, while 

 fresh, are stuck blades of knives, such as gardeners 

 use for pruning and grafting. As the stem dries, it 

 contracts and hardens, closely and firmly embracing 

 the hilt of the blade. In the course of some months 

 the handles become quite firm, and very hard and 

 shrivelled, so that when tipped with metal they are 

 hardly to be distinguished from hartshorn." 



Much resembling this species, but immensely 

 larger, is the plant which has received the name 

 of Sea-furbelows (L. bulbosa). A single specimen, 

 fresh from the sea, is a heavy load for a man's 

 shoulder: and one which was measured by Mrs. 

 Griffiths, when spread out, covered a circular space 

 of twelve feet in diameter. The great weight of the 

 frond in this species requires extraordinary support 

 against the force of the waves, which else, having 

 so strong a purchase, would soon overturn it. To 



* Botanical Rambles, p. 286. 



