188 Objects for the Microscope. 



2. Favellse, or gelatinous receptacles, surrounded by an 

 involucre, and containing a mass of minute angular spores. 



There is a beautiful species, called Griffithsia coralince, 

 the filaments of which resemble a string of fine glossy 

 crimson beads, found on rocks at low- water mark, or in 

 deep pools during summer. This should be mounted, if 

 possible, with its tetraspores. 



GRACILLARIA, 



one of the Sphserococcoidae, named from a Latin word 

 signifying " slender." 



Gracillaria erecta is found on sand-covered rocks, at 

 Sidmouth and Torquay ; it fruits in winter,* when it should 

 be gathered and mounted ; for both kinds of fructification 

 are beautiful, especially the coccidia, of which sections 

 should be made to show the spores imbedded in the outer 

 skin, and the delicate hexagonal cells of the interior. 



The coccidia are pod-like receptacles at the tips of the 

 filaments, and, when magnified, appear to be dotted with 

 crimson spots. Make a transverse section to observe the 

 position of the spores. The other kind of fructification is 

 a frond covered with sessile capsules, about the size of a 

 poppy-seed, containing a cluster of oblong red seeds. 



Gracillaria compressa is sometimes cast ashore attached 

 to coral and alga3 at Sidmouth, where it was found by 

 Mrs. Griffiths, and also in the Channel Islands by other 

 collectors. It is not generally known that the Island of 

 Alderney is famous for its rare and beautiful Sea-weeds, 

 many of them made known by Mrs. Gaudion, wife, of the 

 late judge of Alderney, an indefatigable collector and 

 admirable preserver of Sea-weeds, to whom I am greatly 

 obliged for some excellent specimens. 



LAURENSIA. 



There are several species of this abundant and pretty 

 Sea-weed. It varies much in colour and size ; some species, 

 L. pinnatifida, being of a dark purple and even olive colour, 

 whilst the Laurentia obtusa has a fine pink colour ; though 



* February and March. 



