. 45 
the ashes of several kinds of rockweed, notably Fucus vesiculosus. 
At the present time iodine, in combination with sodium and 
magnesium, is obtained from the ashes of Fuci and Laminaria. 
As manure for the land, the large seaweeds are collected in great 
quantities by the peasants of Western Ireland, and as food for man 
and beast, they are highly valued in many parts. Before passing 
on, I may remark that the student who will take the trouble to 
examine the ‘“‘conceptacles”’ of a Fucus will be well rewarded for 
his pains. 
A very free grower on our rocks is the Irish Moss, a red weed; 
grandly called Chondrus crispus. It is a very variable plant, in 
form and colour, and is therefore trying enough to the learner; but 
it claims notice as a ‘“‘thing of beauty’’ on account of its 
iridescence. Its raindow tints are lovely. Corallina officinalis, 
common coralline, was formerly a sort of pons asinorum, being 
looked upon as an animal production, but it is without adoubta - 
true seaweed, one of a group possessing the power to take up chalk 
from the water and build up a mineral framework. The chalky 
weeds are numerous. Some of them, being merely incrustations 
looking like lichens onthe rocks, would not be noticed were it not 
for their bright colours. These plants have been called Nullipores. 
Among the common objects of our coasts are many interesting 
plants, large and small, and it would be pleasant to stay awhile 
amongst them. But our rocks and sands furnish a home for 
animals as well as plants; indeed, in parts, are coast is ‘all alive” 
with curious creatures. Our beach, again, is at times strewn with 
things, some of which do not belong to us at all, whilst others are 
washed up from beyond low water mark. It is not possible to say 
what is really our own, because no dredging has been done. 
Perhaps one of these days the Folkestone Natural History Society 
will be rich enough to plan a dredging expedition, with our esteemed 
Secretary as its head naturalist, Should an assistant be wanted, 
possibly he might be found. 
__ Some of my audience are no doubt familiar with the hydra—not 
the fabled monster with many heads which Hercules killed, but the 
little polype. It isa little fresh-water creature, from a quarter to 
half an inch long, and of extremely simple structure, for it consists 
merely of a stomach and a mouth, which is surrounded by a ring 
of tentacles or arms. Hydra viridis is plentifnl in ponds, where it 
is very often attached to the little floating leaves of the duckweed. 
Its integument consists of an outer and an inner layer. The arms 
with which, as we should suppose, the creature catches its prey are 
_ provided with cells, which enclose threads—lassos, as Miss Buck- 
land calls them. Threads are really thrown, in lasso fashion, 
_ round and into the body of the unfortunate victim that comes 
