( 172 ) 



half or three inches in length, but on the southern shores of the country 

 they are said to gi'ow to a much greater size, and form a much more 

 conspicuous object in almost every tide-pool. 



This species, like the rest of the genus, is annual, commencing its 

 vegetation in eai'ly spring, and becoming ragged or even mostly dis- 

 appearing with the first storms of autumn. This tendency to become 

 denuded is, no doubt, greatly promoted by the tufted ramuli rendering 

 them more apt to be broken off, and leaving the denuded stems to 

 form harsh rigid tufts, very unlike the soft, silky fringes of early 

 summer. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE CLXXV. 



Fig. ]. — Ectocarpus fasciculatiis, natural size. 

 2.— Ramulus. 

 3. — Fruit. Both magnified. 



