140 SEAWEEDS. 



of a tuft of simple threads growing from a little knob. 

 The Fucus Vescicularus was covered for inches with such 

 tufts, they are called from the plant that nourishes them, 

 Elachistea Fucicola, the generic name meaning least. 

 Other species are found on the Cystoseira Fibrosa and 

 Hemanthalia Sorea, etc. 



The Myrionemas, the last family of the order, are 

 formed of numerous erect threads, so small as to need a 

 microscope to distinguish them. The whole plant forms 

 a mere dot, and is found on red and green weeds. 



The last order of the olive weeds, the Ectocarpacese, 

 contains a number of elegant plants, some simply 

 branched, and some most copiously divided, and coloured 

 in every shade of olive and green : but it was not at 

 Oban that we made the acquaintance of this family. 



We had passed on to Arran, and achieved what we 

 had been assured was an impossibility, viz., the procuring 

 of lodgings at Brodick Bay. The Duke of Hamilton, 

 whose castle stands on the left of the said bay, dis- 

 courages summer visitors, and will not allow his tenants 

 to enlarge their houses for their reception. But we cared 

 for no luxuries, and were well contented with mere 

 cottage accommodation, cleanliness being our only sine 

 qua non. 



How exquisite was the moonlight view over the frown- 

 ing mountains, peaceful bay, and silver sea beyond ! It 

 was just the scene to suggest the " Seaweed dream." 



" I walked one night in dreams on the shore, 

 And heard the mighty breakers roar ; 

 Yet amid the din there was borne along 

 A syren sound, the sea-weed's song. 



