2 52 
The Natural Hiffory of the Book IX. 
The Sea Weeds, which grow in Plenty near the Shores of this Hland, 
are no lefs beautiful ‘to the:Eye.than they are ufeful ; affording Food 
for feveral Kinds‘ of Fifth, fuch as the Tortoife, Chubbs, Mullets, Blue- 
fith, and the Mofs-grooper, &e. : 
And as in Northern Climates they prove a Shelter from the Inclemency 
of the cold Weather, to fuch Fith as are obliged to feek their Food in 
fhallow. Water; fo likewife, in hot Countries, they equally fhelter them 
from the intenfe Heat of the Sun. Nor are the large Beds of Sea-Weeds, 
which: are feen floating in the Ocean, without their peculiar Ufes ; among, 
others, in thefe feveral Kinds of the leffer and moft helplefs Species of 
Fith, depofit their Spawn; and here likewife they are proteéted whilft 
young from their Enemies. _ = 
The Variety of thefe Weeds, efpecially the foft Fic, growing on 
the Rocks and Stones near the Shore, are not only curious in their 
Make, but they are likewife, in all Probability, (were we to know all the 
Intentions of Providence in creating them,) as many, as ufeful, and 
valuable, as the terreftial Vegetables we are better acquainted with. 
Some of them, like Groves in Miniature, extend their numerous Branches 
to a confiderable Diftance : Others, like weak creeping Vines, are of fo 
fmall, foft and delicate a Texture, that they may be intended for Food, 
to the fmalleft Animalcules. So that upon the whole, from the little 
that we do know of fubmarine Produétions, we may juftly conclude, that, 
as the Earth is full of God’s Goodnefs, fo is the great and wide Sea, 
The BUACK-FRINGED Sra-WEEp. 
os ae is very finely fringed, and very bufhy, efpecially near the 
Top. Its feveral Subdivifions are neatly bearded with infinite 
Numbers of fhort, hairy, foft pointed Briftles. Its moft fubftantial 
lower Branches are thickly ftudded with {everal {mall Berries, 
The Frince Sra-Wexp. 
HE Colour of this is generally White, aaa exactly refembles 
the Fringe or Border of Cufhions: It is found upon almoft every 
fandy Bay. CRA o ; 
The WuitE, NARRoW-LEAFED SEA-WEED: 
ae HE Roots of this are clofely matted together. Its feveral, thick- 
{et, capillarious, fringy Branches, ate divided into lateral, {maller 
ones ; and thefe again, elegantly fubdivided into others, ftill lefs; each 
generally ending in a triparture Divifion, and fometimes, tho’ rarely, in 
a white, leafy, broad Point. 
2 The 
