(72) 



segments, their apices involute, and fringed with slender confervoid 

 cilise ; the frond with its divisions are all rolled inwards longitudinally, 

 the inner side mai'ked with numerous concentric bands, which are 

 furnished with a ciliated fringe like the outer edge when young, bu.t which 

 is more or less abraded in age ; the upper surface smooth, often 

 polished and shining, more or less marked with minute concentric and 

 radiating striae and ridges ; outer side rougher, and somewhat fibrous, 

 more or less covered with white powder, strite and ridges rather more 

 distinctly marked than on the inner side. Structure consisting of a 

 single stratum of minute, oblong, quadrate cells, arranged in longitudinal 

 linear series. Substance coriaceo-membranaceous, imperfectly adhering 

 to paper. Colom-, a reddish brown at the base, of a fine greenish yellow 

 or shining golden green upwards. Fructification : obovate utricles or 

 tetraspores, surrounded by a broad pellucid limbo, at length divided 

 cruciately into four sporules, and collected in sori under the surface of 

 the concentric bands, which at length bursting allows the spores to 

 escape. 



This beautiful plant appears to be not uncommon in many places 

 along the southern shores of England, where alone it is found in this 

 country, increasing in plenty as we proceed southwards ; in Southern 

 Europe it is rather plentiful, and within the tropics is extremely 

 abundant. 



The edges of the frond are naturally cui-ved inwards, and when 

 flattened on paper the frond often splits longitudinally in various places, 

 and this seems often to take place even in the growing state ; hence, 

 perhaps, that among the numerous fronds now before us, many of them 

 are split from top to bottom into obcuneate segments, rounded at the 

 top, and gradually tapering to the base. 



It delights to grow in rather shallow, clear pools between tides, and 

 having the power of decomposing the rays of light, like Chondrus crispus 

 and some other species, but in a greater degree, nothing, it is said, can 

 equal the beauty and splendour of this plant when alive in its native 

 element, where it exhibits a play of colours, if less varied, even more 

 brilliant than those of the rainbow. This power of decomposing the 

 light seems chiefly to reside in the ciliary filaments, which by their 

 number and peculiar arrangement add greatly to the beauty of the 

 object. This rich display of colours, however, is not much seen, except 

 along the margin, until the frond is opened up to the light, when the 

 whole surface, more or less, as the cilife are perfect, display the most 

 beautiful prismatic colours, as if sprinkled over with the most brilliant 

 gems. 



We have not heaxd of its recent occurrence farther north than the 



