138 THE GULF-WEED : 



Within the limits of a current setting to the 

 S. W., between the latitudes of 12 and 14 N., 

 the sea was strewn with much vegetable refuse 

 of the land, probably derived from the Cape de 

 Verd group. A Sperm Whale was also noticed, 

 spouting and moving leisurely at a short distance 

 from the ship, and our crew, in conformity with 

 an inveterate habit, could not avoid shouting 

 after it ; although, under existing circumstances, 

 the whale had nothing to dread from their 

 clamour. 



It was not until we were in lat. 33 N., long. 

 37 W., that we noticed any of the gulf-weed, 

 (Sargassum vulgare*) so abundantly spread 



* A sea- weed too well known, even on the western 

 coasts of England, to need much description here. It 

 will be sufficient, therefore, to observe, that on this ocean 

 it occurs in floating banks, or fields, of very great extent ; 

 and usually in large bunches, irregularly branched. It 

 has a green-yellow or lemon-colour, (changed to red by 

 drying,) a strong healthy texture, a recent odour, and in- 

 variably presents a broken and decayed stalk ; but never 

 any trace of a root. Its leaves are narrow, and toothed 

 at the margins ; its vesicles, or " berries," are numerous, 

 small, globular, supported on short foot-stalks, and have 

 often a leaf-like appendage at their summit. A delicate 

 parasitic conferva usually encircles the stalks of this fucus, 

 and ramifies so minutely over its leaves as scarcely to be 

 detected, except by the many erect, bright-yellow, and 



