s ©n the Stuov? of IHatural Scencrp. 



things available for our purpose. We note the form of the 

 shore; here extending into low promontories ; there forming 

 sheltered coves and bays. The shore is sometimes rocky and 

 precipitous, with bowlders scattered along the base of the 

 cliffs, but more often even and gradually sloping, covered 

 with dazzling white sand. The masses of seaweeds washed 

 ashore form little furrows and beds bordering the high-water 

 mark, and give nutriment to many curious forms of vege- 

 table life. The sea rocket forms dense masses of glisten- 

 ing, fleshy leaves, almost covered with delicate pink flowers, 

 sea holly grows in the pure sand, the spiny-edged, milky 

 white leaves form quite effective foliage, well in harmony 

 with the surroundings. Coarse grasses of a glaucous color 

 border the higher parts of the shore. As a rule the vege- 

 tation is of a peculiar silvery gray color, generally dwarf 

 and tufted, often forming mats of leaves and bright flowers. 

 A common plant on sandy, level shores is the sea pink, one 

 of the neatest of all flowering plants ; its tufted masses of 

 narrow, bright green leaves and rosy-red flowers cover the 

 ground as far as the eye can see. In other places we find 

 bright patches of wild thyme with purple flowers, and 

 golden immortelle weaves over the sand a carpet of silvery 

 foliage and yellow flowers. Among the woody plants 

 peculiar to sea-shores, stunted and gnarled [lines are com- 

 mon and characteristic, as are also, in some parts of Europe, 

 tamarix, and sea buckthorn. When the shore is rocky, 

 many kinds of rock roses, crowberries, and other plants 

 form a scant covering to the weather-beaten cliffs. 



Sometimes dunes of ever-shifting sand extend far inland ; 

 almost destitute of vegetation they bury trees and shrubs 



