28 Rev. A. F. Kemj) on the Shore Zones oj 



pools in great abundance, and quite at home in them. It is a 

 rigid dark red plant bifurcating twice or thrice. A curious plant 

 called Furcellaria fastigiatia is also a characteristic denizen of 

 this zone. Its soft texture and forked apices are its characteristic 

 features. Over the three belts of this zone and attached to the 

 rocks in considerable masses, the very gelatinous Pori^hyra laci- 

 ■ nata is found in perfect condition. This is the laver of the Scotch 

 shore. It is a most widely dififused plant, but chiefly inhabits the 

 northern waters; in southern latitudes it becomes delicate and 

 small. 



The third line of the zone is perhaps the finest field of any on 

 the shore in which to search for growing specimens of the pre- 

 vailing shore plants, and the more hardy inhabitants of the deep 

 sea. Time and labour spent here will always be rewarded by the 

 discovery of either unknown species, or of new varieties and 

 habitats of those already known. 

 IV. The fourth zone is that of the Laminaria. 



This is the largest kind of marine plants. The species never 

 leave the water if they can help it, and are found in the pools which 

 touch upon low water mark. They often grow in the channels 

 and grooves of rock, up which the water, at low tides, is generally 

 flowing at the rise and fall of every wave. The Laminaria digi~ 

 tata which grows here, either rooted to the rock or to some large 

 shell, such as Mytillus edulis^ with its strong fibrous roots, attains 

 sometimes to a great size. Its stem is not generally more than 

 two or three feet in length, sometimes it is much shorter, but the 

 frond which grows upon it is frequently from four to six feet long 

 and split up into numerous laminje. This is a, strong leathery 

 plant, of a dark olive colour, and conspicuous for its size among 

 the drift along the whole northern shore of America. L. saccha- 

 rina is next to it in size, with its variety latifolia, but its stem is 

 somewhat shorter, and its frond narrower and longer, and its mar- 

 gin frequently waved and fringed. These long oar-like plants 

 are very abundant, and are remarkable for the density of their 

 structure. When tossed about by the strong waves of the ocean, 

 they lash the shore with great force. When driven ashore they 

 generally bring the piece of rock or the shell to which they are at- 

 tached with them. They are the favorite haunts of innumerable 

 Sertularice, Bryozom and Sponges. The beautiful dulse, or Body, 

 menia pahnata^ very generally grows in luxuriant profusion upon 

 their stems. The smaller species, L. Phyllitis and L, dermaiodea, 



