MELOBESIA. 109 



hollow ; foliations delicate, papyro-crustaceous, dense, erect, 

 much lobed and sinuated, fastigiate; margin thin, entire. 

 Johnst. Brit. Lith. p. 241 ; Harv. Phyc. Brit. t. Ixxiii. 



Lying on the sandy bottom of quiet bays, in 2 3 fathoms water. Bound- 

 stone Bay, Cuunemara. This forms globular masses 4 8 inches in dia- 

 meter, hollow, from the central portion continually rotting away as the 

 exterior foliations extend. The whole is composed of innumerable vertical 

 leafy plates closely packed together, and variously twisted. It is of a pale 

 flesh-colour when fresh. 



5. M. lichenoides, Borl. ; frond attached to rocks, free at 

 the margins, foliaceous, lichenoid, variously lobed ; foliations 

 spreading, often imbricated ; ceramidia large, conical, promi- 

 nent. 



On rocks and in tide-pools, near low -water mark. Not uncommon. Pe- 

 rennial ? Variable in habit, resembling one of the leafy Lichens, such as 

 a Peltidia, spreading over rocks, or somewhat erect, the marginal lobes 

 generally free. Colour pale. Some varieties of this plant closely resemble 

 small specimens of M. ayariciformis, and would lead us to infer that the 

 difference in habit was caused by the different depths at which these plants 

 vegetate. 



*** F rQ nd minute, thin, parasitic on various Alga, &c. 



6. M. membranacea, Lamour. ; minute, dot-like, very thin, 

 pale purple, circular, at length confluent, attached to other 

 Algae; ceramidia one or two, depressed. 



Common on the leaves of Zostera, the fronds of Chondrus crispus, &c. 

 Annual. Summer. From half a line to a line in diameter, very thin, and 

 almost membranous, dotting over the plant on which it grows. It very 

 frequently is found in fruit, having two or more depressed ceramidia. 



7. M. farinosa, Lamour. ; minute, irregular in outline, 

 rather thin, pallid, with two or three prominent ceramidia. 



On various Algae. Rather larger and thicker than the preceding, with 

 more prominent fruit, but to me it appears merely a stronger-grown variety. 

 I depend, for the name, on a specimen from the Mediterranean, communi- 

 cated by M. Lenormand. 



8. M. verrucata, Lamour. ; thin, expanded, irregularly 

 lobed, pallid, dotted over with innumerable small, pimply 

 ceramidia. 



On Phyllophora rubens, &c. Looks like a still more advanced state of 

 M . membranacea. 



9. M.pustulata, Lamour. ; thick, dull purple or green, ob- 

 long or lobed, incrusting, smooth j ceramidia numerous, 

 large, rather prominent, conical. 



On Phyllophora rubens, Chondrus crispus, &c. This is the largest and 



