Corallinece.'] corallixa. 275 



fig. 53j portion of plants natural size, and the base, on the 

 left, is a small portion with capsules, magnified.) 



Hab. On rocks, and on the larger Algse. Annual. 

 Summer. 



Common on all our shores, creeping on the steep sides of 

 perpendicular rocks near low-water mark. Irish specimens 

 are large, sometimes a foot in length. In the west of Scot- 

 land they are seldom above five inches in length, and more 

 generally not above three inches. The smaller specimens 

 are like Catenella Ojpuntia. Colour reddish-purple; sub- 

 stance membranaceous, filled with watery gelatine. 



Eamily XVI. COEALLIXEiE. 



*' Involved iu sea-^vi*ack here you find a race, 

 Which Science, doubting, knows not whereto place." — Crabbe. 

 " Corallinas ad Uegnum Animale pertinere ex substantia earum calcarea 

 constat, cum omnem calcem Animalium esse productiun verissimum sit." — 

 Linnaus. 

 " Mihi vero totum hocce genus Botanicis relinquendum videtur." — Pallas. 

 " Heu quse nunc tellus — quse me sequora possint 



Accipere ? 



Cui neque apud Danaos usquam locus." — Virgil. 



Genus LXXVIII. COEALLINA, Linnmis. 

 Gen. Char. Frond filiform, articulated, branched (mostly pin- 



