24 ANEMONES AND SEA-WEEDS. 



the lower parts, where the limits of the tide's recess 

 are approached, are Actiiiice of a deep red hue, the 

 common, unattractive species, the only one known 

 however to thousands of sea-side visitors who talk 

 enthusiastically of sea-anemones, — A. mesemhryan- 

 tliemiim. The whole of the space between the tide 

 lines is covered more or less thickly with matted 

 masses of olive sea-weeds, short and stunted on the 

 higher sites, and becoming more and more luxuriant 

 as they approach low-water mark, where they wave 

 in tangled tresses at every incoming sea, or hang in 

 streaming shaggy locks as it recedes. The irregu- 

 larities of the surface necessarily produce many 

 hollows of various sizes, which, being covered at high 

 water, remain full as the tide recedes, and, except in 

 very rough weather, when the seals much loaded with 

 earthy particles, hold their contents in the most beau- 

 tifully transparent condition : and the contracted 

 dimensions allowing no room for the action of the 

 wind, no ruffling of the surface is there to mar the 

 glass- like clearness of the water, or to prevent the eye 

 from peering down into every corner and crevice. 

 The constant presence of water in these basins allows 

 many delicate species of sea-weeds to grow freely in 

 them, at a height above low-water mark, where other- 

 wise they would never be found : and hence sheltered 

 tide-pools constantly present specimens of the smaller 

 and more lovely Algce in great perfection. In some 

 of these grow along the sides, just beneath the surface, 

 single fronds of the pretty little Bhodymenia palmetta, 

 and waving tufts of the finer sorts of Ceramiiwi, with 

 the moss-like Plocamium coccineum, and whole 



