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IX. Defcripttom of Jhur new Species of Fucus. By Dawfon 1'urntrj. 



M, A. F. L. S. 



Read May 5, 1801. 



oxLTHOUGH the numerous individuals comprehended under that 

 extenfwe family known by the name of Fucns, and efpccially fuch 

 of them as are confidered natives of Britain, have of late years beerv 

 the fubje«5t of much inquiry, and have induced many moft able 

 botanifts to exert their Ikill in the inveftigation of them, it never- 

 thelefs requires but a very flight acquaintance with the fubjeiSl, to 

 be fully per fuaded- that, without entering into laborious reiearches 

 Tjpon their internal organization, or the mode of their fru6lification,. 

 things hitherto almoft entirely negle6led, a wide field remains for 

 future naturalifts to difplay their ingenuity, in the determination of 

 many even of thofe fpecies which are mofl: abundant upon every 

 part of our Ifland. I fhould feel extremely forry were this, or any- 

 fimilar obfervation, to be confidered as detradling from the merits of 

 thofe gentlemen, to whofe exertions I have always had a pleafure in 

 acknowledging that the fcience is mofl deeply indebted: — far from 

 fuch an idea, my intention is only to fay that our knowledge of the 

 marine alga is ftill in its infancy; and a ftronger proof of the juftice. 

 of this remark can hardly be adduced) than the common Eucm ve- 

 Jtculofus, from the varying appearances of which, Linnaeus and 

 feme fubfequent botanifts have formed fuch an infinity of diftindt 

 fpecies. Did this circumftance require further confirmation,, it. 

 might poffibly in fome degree receive it from a confideration of the- 



four. 



