BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN. 121 



flexible elasticity that is astonishing; so much so, 

 that bend them into any form, or twist them into an 

 hundred shapes, while they adhere in their native 

 freshness, to the rocks, still they recover their na- 

 tural shape and position without danger of breaking. 

 The roots of sea plants are not constructed for pe- 

 netrating deep into the soil, but they are wonderful- 

 ly fitted for taking firm hold of the rocks or stones 

 upon which they vegetate, and, instead of being dis- 

 turbed by the tossings of the tempest, these seem ra- 

 ther to acquire vigour by the severity of the weather. 

 The long and broad leaves of these plants are ex- 

 cellently formed for imbibing moisture from the sur- 

 rounding element; their horizontal position, extreme 

 pliability, and oval shaped branches, fit them admi- 

 rably for the peculiar situations in which they are 

 placed, while the clammy, glutinous moisture, with 

 which they are covered, no doubt serves (besides 

 other important purposes,) to prevent them from being 

 injured by the continual action of the w r ater ; so that, 

 in the words of an admirable writer, whom we have 

 already more than once quoted, " we see from this, 

 and numberless other instances, what a diversity 

 there is in the operations of the great Creator's hand. 

 Yet every operation is an improvement, and each 

 new pattern has a peculiar fitness of its own. The 

 herbs and trees (he also adds) which flourish on the 

 dry land, are maintained by the juices that permeate 

 the soil, and fluctuate in the air. For this purpose 

 they are furnished with leaves to collect the one, and 

 with roots to attract the other; whereas the sea plants, 



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