(46) 



rather large, roundish ovate, angular, smaller towards the circum- 

 ference, where they are very minute, coloured, and form vertical, monili- 

 form filaments. Substance, when fresh, cartilaginous ; when dry, hard 

 and horny. Colour, a deep dark, somewhat brownish red. Favellidia 

 "minute, depressed, spherical, immersed in the siibstance of the frond, 

 and scattered through its upper segments, each with a pale margin, and 

 filled with very numerous sj)ores : " these we have not seen, and they 

 appear to be uncommon. Nemathecia rather large, hemispherical, sessile 

 on both svu'faces of the frond, and composed of radiating, moniliform 

 filaments, gradually tapering to a point, and regularly dichotomous, their 

 articulations at length converted into spores. 



This species, although designated by the name Norvegiciis, is said to 

 be by no means common in Norway, and indeed Dr. Harvey suggests 

 the probability of a doubt of the identity of the southern species with 

 that so designated by Bishop Gunner, and if so, it would be better 

 perhaps to designate the present plant by a name at least less inap- 

 propriate. 



We have not met with it on the east coast, and have not seen speci- 

 mens either from the west coast or from Ireland, but on the south 

 and south-west coasts of England it seems to be by no means uncommon, 

 and all our specimens are covered with nemathecia ; these appear to be 

 common even on the most dwarfy specimens. 



Its flat fronds readily distinguish this from the last species, but from 

 some of the varieties of Chondrus crispus it is not so readily distin- 

 guished at first sight, although the larger cells of the axis will readily 

 be apparent when a thin section is placed imder the microscope. Its 

 linear fronds, rather thicker substance, and the pale reddish brown tips 

 of the branches, will generally serve to separate the two species, even 

 at sight. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE LXXXIH. 



Fig. 1. — Gymnogongrns Norvegicus, natural size. 

 2. — Portion of frond with favellidia. 

 3. — Section of a favellidium. 

 4. — Spores from same. 

 5. — Portion of frond with nemathecia. 

 6. — Section of a nemathecium. 

 7. — Filaments from nemathecium. All magnified. 



