TIIE SII0RE3 OF BRITAIN. 51 



purchased, there was no reason why he should not. 

 He accordingly stayed behind for a minute or two, 

 and when he rejoined me, was loaded with a supply 

 of the same plant, which he continued to munch 

 with much apparent relish as we pursued our walk."* 

 Mr. Drummond, however, it must not be concealed, 

 gives a somewhat different account, both of the part 

 which is eaten and its flavour, and as his observations 

 refer to the coast of Antrim, it is not easy to account 

 for the conflicing statements, except by supposing 

 some variation of taste in different neighbourhoods 

 or individuals. The latter gentleman says, "It is 

 often gathered for eating, but the part used is the 

 leaflets, and not the midrib, as is commonly stated. 

 These have a very pleasant taste and flavour, bat 

 soon cover the roof of the mouth with a tenacious 

 greenish crust, which causes a sensation somewhat 

 like that of the fat of a heart or kidney. These 

 leaflets are quite membranaceous when young, but 

 in full-grown plants are fleshy, and at their middle 

 a quarter of an inch or more in thickness."f 



The Dulse of the Scottish coast, which was just 

 now described, must not be confounded with the 

 Dulse of the southern shores of England. This is 



O 



a very different plant (Iridcea edulis), having little 

 resemblance to it, except in being eatable. It con- 

 sists of a short stem expanding into an oval leaf, 

 without rib or veins, sometimes a foot and a half 

 Ions:, and eight or ten inches wide. It is thick and 

 fleshy, of a deep blood-red hue, the surface smooth 

 and glossy. It is not frequently found, however, in, 



* Bot. Ram. 279. f Mag. Zool. and Bot. ii. 148. 



