THE COLDER TEMPEEATE ZONE. 85 



pendulous and again divided into sprays, from which hang 

 linear leaves, from one to three feet long. 



The individual plants are described as growing " attached 

 in groups, or solitary, but gregarious, like the Pine or Oak, 

 extending over a considerable surface, so as to form a minia- 

 ture forest, which is entirely submerged during high water, 

 or even half tide, but whose topmost branches project above 

 the surface at the ebb." A beautiful and living picture is 

 drawn of this submarine vegetable world and its inhabitants, 

 which is so full of interest of various kinds, that " to sail in 

 a boat over these groves on a calm day affords the naturalist 

 a delightful recreation; for he may there witness, in the 

 Antarctic regions, and below the surface of the ocean, as busy 

 a scene as is presented by the coral reefs of the tropics." 



The leaves of the Lessonia are crowded with different kinds 

 of zoophytes and mollusca ; other seaweeds grow parasiti- 

 cally upon the trunk, with which are intermingled Chitons, 

 Patella, and other shells : " at the bases and amongst the 

 tangled roots swarm thousands of Crustacea and Radiata, 

 whilst fish of several species dart amongst the leaves and 

 branches." 



Some idea may be formed of the immense masses in which 

 this seaweed grows, when we are told that from the sunken 



