48 THE OCEAN. 



to three feet of water, grow Alaria esculenta and 

 Laminaria hulbosa, and the larger specimens of 

 L. digitata and saccharina, with some small kinds, as 

 Rliodomenia palmata, Halidrys siliquosa, and Deles- 

 seria sanguinea. In places uncovered only at the 

 lowest ebbs, smaller plants of L. digitata and saccha- 

 rina abound with Himanthalia lorea, or Sea-thongs. 

 On the beaches uncovered by every tide, F. serratus 

 occurs lowest down, along with CJwndrus crispus and 

 mammillosus ; next comes F. nodosus, and, higher up, 

 F. vesiculosus. Beyond this, F. canaliculatus still 

 grows, thriving very well if only wet at flood-tide, 

 and though liable to become dry and shrivelled during 

 a great part of the day. Lastly, Lichina pygmcea is 

 satisfied if it be within reach of the spray." * 



In examining these Algte, and especially if we 

 collect them for preservation, we shall find very fre- 

 quently entangled among them, branches of a sub- 

 stance which adheres with so much tenacity as to 

 cause no little trouble in cleansing the specimens. 

 I refer to the common Coralline {Corallina offici- 

 nalis). No organic substances have more divided 

 naturalists in opinion as to their real nature than the 

 Corallines. Evidently placed on the very verge of 

 the animal or vegetable kingdom, it required a 

 minute acquaintance with their structure, derived 

 from the closest observation, and all the research 

 of modern science, to decide the long uncertain 

 question, and to fix them where they now by com- 

 mon consent hold their place, among the vegetable 



* Edin. Eiicyc. Art. " Fuel." Host of the species here alluded to 

 I have described above. 



