106 BRITISH SEA- WEEDS. {Jilclanosjjermea, 



one signifying a liviyig creature, and the other a plcmt ; for 

 though they do not vegetate like plants, the habitations 

 formed by the numerous little }X)ly]^es are in not a few cases 

 j)laTit-hke. These attach themselves to rocks and shells and 

 Sea-weeds, and Ilalidr^s s'diquosa is a special favourite with 

 many of them. Nothing is more common than to find on it 

 rich silvery tufts of Cellularla rej^tans. Occasionally also you 

 may observe on it a zoophyte which is like an elegant tuft 

 of feathers, and which I have already described, viz., Phi- 

 mularia crisfata, or Podded Coralline. At other thnes you 

 may see the branches of Halidrt/s intertwined with another 

 zoophyte of great beauty; this is Valkeria cuscuta, taking 

 its specific name from its resemblance to the plant called 

 Dodder. In its collapsed state it is apt to be disregarded 

 by the inexperienced, but when you have seen it spread out 

 on paper, you Avill not willingly let it shp. I could enume- 

 rate as many more that are often parasitical on Halidr^s, 

 W ho \vould think that on a single bunch of Sea-weed there 

 is so much real enjoyment? AVhole colonies of happy 

 living creatures, all rejoicing in life, and showing forth the 

 praise of Him by whom they have been kindly and wonder- 

 fully made ! 



