Laminar ie a.'] alaria. 117 



of it that is eaten is the midrib stripped of the membrane. 

 We have not heard of its being eaten in the west of Scot- 

 land. It is a handsome plant, and very tasteful figures of 

 it may be found in Turner's ' Historia rucorum/ Greville's 

 ' Algae Britannicse/ and Harvey's ^ Phycologia Britannica.'' 

 We have found it in great abundance on the rocky parts of 

 the coast of Ayrshire, the Island of Arran, and at Macri- 

 hanish Bay and Southend in Kintyre. In September 1850, 

 we saw it forming at low water a rich fringe on some parts 

 of the Giant's Causeway, on the bold coast of Antrim, and 

 we brought away specimens having the lower part of the 

 stem finely pinnated with the distinct leaflets. Owing to 

 this interesting appendage, it is known at the Causeway 

 under the name of " Purses," because these pinnated leaflets 

 are thought to resemble a Highlandman's purse. It is in 

 fructification about midsummer. In favourable circum- 

 stances it grows to a great size, from twelve to twenty feet 

 in length. The best specimens for the herbarium are found 

 in rock-pools. It retains in drying its light olive-green 

 colour, and when young adheres well to paper. 



