288 ALG^. 



have I stood enraptured. There the Tangle shoots half across the 

 deep basin, — one broad and smooth, — another like a ribbon, curled 

 and crisped on the edges ; the Sea-thongs and the Fuci hang droop- 

 ing down the sides ; numbers of feathery red, purple and green con- 

 fervse and confervoid growths clothe the basin ; corallines shoot up 

 in plumy layers ; and tufted sea-weeds of lesser size and superior 

 beauty to those coarser kinds that crowd the shore, look up to us 

 from the water in many hues and forms. I do love these sea-weeds. 

 And so you reach at length the sea ; and you see amongst this forest 

 of Tangle an undergrowth of serrated Fuci, Sea-thongs, Lavers and 

 Dulse, while beautiful coloured Polysiphonise and others grow thick 

 on the abrupt side of every overhanging rock. No spot is bare. 

 Even the stalks of many of the Tangles are shaggy with delicate sea- 

 weeds, — such as I do believe the Mermaid selects wherewith to hang 

 the walls of her favourite cove. This is certain, that the walls of 

 some of our Coves, as those in Holy Island, are clothed with a deep 

 red velvet formed by the overlying filaments of the Polysiphonia ur- 

 ceolata. 



specimens spread out tastefully on paper as memorials of their Spittal visit. 

 A Mr. Stonehouse says admiringly of the Plocamium, — " It is so beautiful 

 that it may seem artificial." How's Phy. Brit. 43. — There are many 

 Master Stonehouses who measure the beauties of Natiu'c by the standard 

 of Man's art. 



AGARICUS GRAMMOPODIUS. 



