THE SHOEES OF BKITAIN. 45 



in the winter, affixed to the midrib, which alone 

 survives that season, the foliaceous part having all 

 decayed away. The onp mode is by means of nearly 

 globular capsules attached to the rib by short foot- 

 stalks, and inclosing many irregularly-shaped seeds ; 

 the other is by small membranaceous, leaf-like pro- 

 cesses, likewise containing seeds. These two kinds 

 of fructification occur on distinct individuals. This 

 charming fucus, of which no adequate idea can be 

 formed by a verbal description, retains much of its 

 beauty when dried, and is very easily preserved. It 

 is a pity that I am obliged to confess that its odour 

 is very unpleasant, being rank and pungent. 



Some of those species, whose fronds are very deli- 

 cately and numerously ramified, have been used to 

 form mimic pictures. By skilful arrangement, very 

 pretty landscapes are thus made, the forms and foliage 

 of trees being beaiitifully imitated. The kinds most 

 commonly appropriated for this purpose are, Ploca- 

 mium coccineum and Gelidium cartilagineum, which 

 have a very beautiful effect if simply expanded on 

 smooth white paper, or on the pearly inner surface of 

 large shells. The whole sub-class Rhodos'permece, to 

 which these belong, is remarkable for brilliant hues, 

 and often elegant forms. 



Lil<;e their kindred, the plants of the earth and air, 

 the sea-weeds have their parasites. As the Tillandsia 

 grows on the giants of the tropical forests, and as 

 the mistletoe grows upon the apple-tree of our own 

 orchards, so do some of these draw their nourishment, 

 or at least derive their support, from the fronds or 

 ctalks of others. Ptilota plumosa, for example, a 



