HALF AN HOUR WITH SEAWEEDS. 



41 



other species of Fucus, of a less common occurrence. 

 The word " wrack," it may be observed, is derived 

 from the French varec, which signifies a seaweed. 



After a storm, you will scarcely fail to see strewn 

 on the beach, just above high-water mark, a sea- 

 weed with a long thick stem of three or four feet, 



Fig. 10. 



Small Wrack (Fucus canaliculatus). 



and having its leaves or fronds digitate, or sepa- 

 rating from a common base, just like the fingers of 

 the human hand. This is the Laminaria digitata. 

 An allied and almost equally common species, dis- 

 tinguished by the greater length of its fronds, is 

 L. saccharina. After this weed has been lying in 

 the sun for a few hours, it becomes more or less 



