292 BRITISH SEA-WEEDS. {TtliodospermecB. 



on Melohesia on the steep sides of rock -pools. Got also by 

 dredging in from four to fifteen fathoms water. Found on 

 all the British coasts^ but regarded as rather rare. Mrs. 

 Griffiths^ Devonshire; Dr. Greville, Loch Ryan; Major 

 Martin, Ardrossan ; D. L., Saltcoats. Many fine specimens 

 have been procured in the island of Arran, where it was dis- 

 covered by Isabella L., growing in abundance in rock-pools 

 on Melohesia. The richest habitat, however, is at Portin- 

 cross, betwixt Ardrossan and Largs, where in August it is . 

 abundant among rejectamenta, in the little creek that forms 

 the harbour, being drifted from deep water. 



Professor Harvey says that our Ayrshire specimens are by 

 much the finest he has seen. The numerous branches are at 

 times about three inches in length. It is often got with 

 capsular fruit, and the capsules are larger in proportion to 

 the stem. At times, also, there are spurious capsules, — 

 knobs formed by the stinting of the ramuli. Not unfre- 

 quently, also, there are clusters of short branches matted 

 together on various places of the frond, — miniature resem- 

 blances of those bunches of twigs like birds' nests often 

 seen on bircli-trees. 



But the most interesting specimens, though the most 

 minute, were got by me after the storms of December 1848, 



