32 THE MICROSCOPE. 



You will find much to attract your attention and 

 excite your admiration in some of the lowest forms of 

 vegetation. The lichens, mosses, sea-weeds, fungi, 

 will all demand your notice, and none will fail to 

 repay you for the pains of a careful investigation. 

 Some of the fresh-water algae are extremely beautiful 

 and readily procurable, whilst, should you pay a visit 



Fig. 15. Receptacle of Fucus, containing Sporangia "germ cells." 



to the sea-side, the "flowers of the sea" when gathered, 

 in some form or other, on every shore, will supply 

 a wide field for investigation. The common Fucus 

 vesiculosiis, whose ovoid capsules you explode at 

 almost every tread of the foot ; or the nearly equally 

 common F. platycarpus will amply repay you for 

 careful research. You will notice the receptacles at 

 the extremity of the fronds ; in the group of Fuci there 

 is no doubt about a true sexual mode of fructification 



