138 



GRAPSIDvE. 



and other submarine plants growing on the north side of 

 that island ; and adds that, " Columbus, finding it alive on 

 the sargasso floating in the sea, concluded himself not far 

 from some land, in the first voyage he made, on the dis- 

 covery of the West Indies." They are, however, found 

 wherever the gulf-weed floats ; and it is doubtless from 

 some accidental drifting of this plant towards our own coast, 

 that we owe the addition of one species to the British 

 Fauna. 



As has been already observed, there are, doubtless, at 

 least three distinct species of the genus. As the British 

 specimens have been named by Dr. Leach, and are cer- 

 tainly distinct from that ordinarily found, I have thought 

 it right to retain his name ; and shall be glad to find that 

 the investigation of the genus by some competent person 

 has led to the adoption of sound specific characters by 

 which the different species may be distinguished. 



