loo Dr, GooDENOUGH and Mr. Woodward^ OBfervations en 



Fuci are alfo more or lefs opake from a variety of caufes. Our 

 variety oi fajliglatm called interceptus is in general opake : but the 

 new branches produced beyond the rings at the extremity of the 

 frons, that is after injury received, arc green and fomewhat pellucid; 

 for in almoft all plants the parts repaired are of a fubftance and 

 texture weaker and fofter than the found parts. The F. palrnatus 

 is a remarkable inftance of the difference cf opacity — fome fpecimens 

 being thin as paper and pellucid, and others of a perfeftly horny or 

 leathery fubftance when dried. There are a few F«c/, which may 

 perhaps hereafter be difcovered to belong to the g^znusUlva. We 

 Ihall only mention ligubtus as an inftance: but as this (lands ar- 

 ranged among the Fuci by Mr. Lightfoot and Mr. Hudfon, we leave 

 it there, having no authority from any appearance of fruftification 

 to difplace it. All Fuci are more or lefs pellucid and thin in their 

 firft beginnings. We have fpoken of their fubftar>ce as it is more 

 generally obferved in properly grown plants. 



The ftruclure of the Fuci is fo very fmgular, that were they not 

 affixed by their bafe to the rocks, as terreftrial plants are by their 

 roots to the ground, we iTiouId be at a lofs how to trace any kind of 

 analogy between them — and yet it has been a favourite employ- 

 ment with all writers; and it countenanced Reaumur in his hypo- 

 thefis of Fuci being provided with male and female flowers. 



They are formed without leaves *, of one continued fubftance, 

 of various texture, from the moft: tender and membranaceous to the 



moft 



• It may be objedted, that we bave faid the Fuel are formed without leaves, and yet 

 ■we take our two firft divifions,yo/;7j- dijiinciis and foiiis iinilis, from that circumfcance. It 

 is not that the plants of thofe divifionsreallyhaveleaves| but only the appearance of them ; 

 and we adapt this appearance to the general language of the Linnsean fyftem. The 

 plants arranged under both thefe divifions do not make up a fifth part of the whole. By 



the 



