284 BRITISH SEA-WEEDS. [Rhoclosjocrmea. 



Family XYIL ElIODOMELEiE. 



" The Oceau old hath my deep reverence. 

 And I could watch it ever : — whcu it sleeps, 

 And its hushed waves but throb at intervals, 

 Like some fair infant's breath in sad repose, — 

 'Tis strangely sweet to gaze ; — or when it starts 

 At voice of tortuiing storm, and, like mad age, 

 Tosses its hoar hair on the ra\ang wind, 

 'Tis wild delight to watch it. But I love 

 To see it gently playing on loose rocks. 

 Lifting the idle sea- weed carelessly ; — 

 Or hear it in some dreary cavern muttering 

 A solitary legend of old times." — T. 11. Rei/nohls. 



Genus LXXXI. ODOXTHALIA, Lpir/h?/e. 



Gen. Char. Frond plane, between membranaceous and carti- 

 laginous, dark venous red, witb an imperfect or obsolete midrib, 

 and alternately toothed at the margin. Fructification, marginal, 

 axillary, or in the teeth : 1, capsules (ceramidia) containing pear- 

 shaped seeds, fixed by their base ; 2, slender processes (stichidia) 

 containing ternate granules. — Grevllle. 



1. Odontiialia dentata, Lijwjhye. 



Hab. On rocks in tbe sea. Perennial. Fruiting in early 

 winter. Filey, Yorksliire, by Mrs. Gatty. 



Tliis is a northern species, not being got in England south 

 of Durham ; and it is confined also in Ireland to the north. 



