182 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 



low, or red. It is these forms that make "red 

 snow" and "blood rain." Water is frequently 

 coloured by numerous shades. For this reason 

 because of the red algae found in its waters the 

 Red Sea was so named. History has many times 

 mentioned strangely coloured rains; the Bible also 

 speaks of such phenomena. 



The Alga3 belong to the vegetable kingdom, but 

 are considered among the lowest forms of plant 

 life. Next above them are certain forms of fungi, 

 such as the water-moulds and the mildews. The 

 fungi are believed to have originated as alga3; and 

 although they are decidedly plants, they have many 

 characteristics of animals. 



"There is nothing on the land that is not in the 

 sea!" That is well illustrated by an "animal- 

 garden" or gardens, for there are many of them 

 in tropical and warm waters. These gardens are 

 among the world's wonders of beauty. They are 

 composed entirely of animals ; yet the marvellously 

 coloured beings simulate perfectly the forms and 

 shapes of flowers. They cling to the rocks like 

 trailing mosses, feathers, flower-like bells, and 

 vines; some appear like daisies, geraniums, an- 

 emones ; others are like roses, verbenas, begonias, or 

 waving grasses; all are like a happy family of 



