200 THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



colour is a fine rose-pink ; it is found from May to Septem- 

 ber at Yarmouth, Torquay, Bogiior, Ilfracombe, &c. 



RHODOMELA. 



This is a large, bushy plant, beautifully tufted in the 

 Spring, and bearing feathery tufts of Ramuli of light 

 brown-purplish colour. In early summer, about June, the 

 fruit is found, and is of two kinds : 



1. Nearly globular capsules, full of free, pear-shaped seeds. 



2. Stichidia, pod-like receptacles, with ternate granules 

 imbedded in the substance. 



Sections of a ripe pod and of the stem are beautiful under 

 the microscope. The external appearance is as if it were 

 ribbed or jointed ; but upon examination we find a tissue of 

 hexagonal cells, each with a red dot in the centre, and if we 

 make a longitudinal section we find oblong cells, through 

 which runs a red filament. It is found upon the drifted 

 stems of Laminaria and upon rocks in the sea. There are 

 several species, of which Rhodomela pynastroides is the most 

 common. 



SPYRIDIA EILAMENTOSA. 



This is rare in England, but found on the coast of Devon- 

 shire, the Isle of Wight, and the Channel Islands. The 

 name is derived from a Greek word signifying " basket" 

 which the receptacles resemble ; for the stalked gelatinous 

 receptacles have a membranous pericarp often surrounded 

 by an involucre of short ramuli, containing two or three 

 masses of roundish granules ; it is these which look like 

 baskets. 



CHAETOSPORA WIGGH 



is very beautiful, but rarely obtained in fruit, and has 

 not yet been thoroughly investigated ; therefore it is men- 

 tioned rather to induce observation when the plant is found 

 in perfection. It is gathered on the coast of Normandy 

 and in the Channel Islands ; Sidmouth, Brighton, and Yar- 

 mouth also yield it occasionally. It is of a fine rose colour, 

 and has very delicate filiform fronds. t 



