226 THE BOTTOM OF TEE SEA. 



polypier, linking together the two kingdoms ol 

 nature. But the algsB do not petrify like the polyp, 

 to whose labours we owe the existence of the coral 

 reefs of the Pacific ; they remain soft and flexible, at 

 the same time establishing immense colonies of their 

 kind. 



Wliat striking objects, what prodigies, do we find 

 in each step of our submarine investigations ! Is it 

 matter of astonishment that in the presence of these 

 marvels man's mind should have invented that 

 fairy mythology, the memory of which has been 

 partly perpetuated by the legends of the middle 

 ages? 



Marine plants are sometimes microscopical. Their 

 floating millions sometimes colour the sea ; among 

 others, the Ked Sea owes its name to such circum- 

 stances. At certain seasons of the year, this sea 

 swarms with filamentous confervae of a beautiful 

 purple colour. The beautiful tint which has from a 

 remote period given thissea the name of Eryth rsean, 

 is due to the infinite numbers of the marine con- 

 fervae. In other cases marine plants attain gigantic 

 dimensions. The Wellingtonia gigantea is no dwarf 

 in size, but what comparison can there be between it 

 and the Varec porte-jpoire of Terra del Fuego, which 

 grows to a height of 1 000 feet ! 



Marine plants have no need of earth. They grow 



