SEA-WEEDS. 133 



observed, it is not a very happy appellation, for 

 finely divided as is the frond, it cannot be said to 

 resemble hair. The frond grows in tufts, varying 

 from two to twelve inches in length, very branched 

 and bushy, the main stem irregularly divided, and 

 seldom thicker than a coarse thread. All the 

 smaller branches are set with uniform little 

 branchlets, like the teeth of a comb. There are 

 three or four on one side, and then three or four 

 on the other. These produce a second series of 

 three or four tiny branchlets from their upper 

 edge ; and a third, or even fourth occur, each less 

 than the preceding one, but of the same number, 

 and always from the upper or inner edge. Though 

 these are minute distinctions, yet they can be 

 clearly seen without the aid of a microscope, and 

 serve to mark this sea-weed from all others. It 

 is often called the Scarlet Hair Flag, but it is 

 rather between a crimson and a scarlet tint, and 

 sometimes of a rose colour. Common as it is, it 

 well deserves Dr. Greville's praise of it, as that 

 writer says, it is " one of the most charming and 

 symmetrical Algce in the world." 



Our beaches, after a stormy day, are strewed 

 with specimens of this plant sometimes large 

 enough to cover the palm of the hand, and now 

 and then of sufficient size to spread over the sur- 

 face of a half-sheet of post paper. Some years 

 since, the poor people who lived on various parts 

 of our coasts, were accustomed to make for sale 

 very pretty landscapes of sea- weed ; and this was 

 a very suitable plant for their purpose, as it re- 

 tained its colour, and well represented a tree. 

 This practice is less general now, but little groups 

 of shells and sea- weeds are still occasionally offered 



