709 



observations are relatively few; but according to my observations 

 in Vestmanbavn, Klaksvig, and Trangisvaagfjord, Pelvetia is found 

 a Httle below as well as a little above tbe bighest water-mark, 

 and the £n/e/'omo/-jo/ja-association, growing above that and indeed 

 preferring piaces where fresh water oozes from the rocks, is met 

 witb far above the bigbest water-mark. 



I therefore fully agree witb Rosen vinge in tbinking that tbe 

 upper limit of tbe littoral region should be stated at tbe level wbere 

 tlie algal vegetation begins^; but wben Rosen vinge declares tbis 

 bmit to be identical witb neap-tide mark at bigh water in Greenland, 

 it is evident from what bas already been said, that tbis greatly dif- 

 fers from the observations made on the Færoes, at any rate on 

 tbeir exposed coasts. 



On account of the very luxuriant algal vegetation whicb ex- 

 tends, as before mentioned, far beyond the bigbest water-mark, it 

 might perhaps be justifiable to introduce a special supralittoral 

 region, as Lorentz has done (1. c. p. 193) and Warming suggested; 

 (compare Si m mons, 66, p. 173). I shall briefly state the reasons wby 

 I do not side witb tbis view. 



I take for granted that tbe bigbest water-mark is tbe lowest 

 limit of such a region ; but on investigating an exposed rocky coast, 

 the algal vegetation will be found to offer not the sligbtest traces 

 whatever of anj' limit. The specificallj' littoral region, wbich might 

 tbus be stated to be below tbe bigbest water-mark, merges imper- 

 ceptibly into that of tbe algal vegetation above it; a line drawn 

 at the bigbest water-mark on the rocks would certainly cut through 

 several formations, causing tbe same formation to belong to both 

 regions. As to tbe littoral and the sublittoral regions circumstances 

 are quite different, tlie limit being often for miles sbarp and distinct, 

 tbough irregularities may indeed occur in the algal vegetation. 

 Moreover, tbe more or less exposed situation of the coast might 

 cause tbe same formation to belong, now to the supralittoral, now 

 to the littoral region. It therefore seems most natural to me to 

 say, that tbe littoral region includes also tbe algal vegetation 

 growing beyond the bigbest water-mark, just as in what follows 1 

 say that the sublittoral includes tbe elittoral region, no dividing line 

 being found between them. 



As to tbe determination of the lowest limit of the httoral region, 



^ sat den ovre Grænse for denne Region bor sættes der, hvor Algevegetationen 

 begynder«. 



