OLIVE COLORED ALG^E. 91 



developed on each side of the thick midrib. It 

 is of a delicate, tender texture, which easily tears, 

 and then always in the same definite oblique direction 

 toward the midrib. The ends of the old plants are 

 usually frayed out, the midrib protruding beyond 

 the rest of the blade with the ''rags and tatters" of 

 the thin membrane hanging to it. The young plants, 

 when not more than six or eight inches high, make 

 veiy beautiful specimens, if neatly mounted. They 

 are of a very delicate green color, and adhere well 

 to paper, as, indeed, do my full grown plants. The 

 species is said to grow twenty feet or more in length 

 in some places. I have never found it over five or 

 six. On the outside of Ram Island, off the Marble- 

 head shore, in midsummer, I found the rocks literally 

 covered with these interesting plants; and as they 

 hung out over the edge of the submerged cHffs, and 

 waved their long, delicate olive streamers in the green 

 rolling waters, they certainly presented a bit of sub- 

 marine scenery, well worth the trouble to find and 

 look at. Turner says that in his day, the midribs of 

 this plant stripped of the membrane, and the thickened, 

 fruit laden leaflets, were brought to market and sold 

 in Scodand, to eat, and were said to be sweet to the 

 taste. They are popularly called " Daber Locks." Mrs. 

 Bray finds it at Kittle Island and Magnolia on Cape 



