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the ashes of several kinds of rockweed, notably Fucus vesiculosus. 

 At the present time iodine, in combination with sodium and 

 magnesium, is obtained from the ashes of Fuci and Laminariae. 

 As manure for the land, the large seaweeds are collected in great 

 quantities by the peasants of Western Ireland, and as food for man 

 and beast, they are highly valued in many parts. Before passing 

 on, I may remark that the student who will take the trouble to 

 examine the " conceptacles " of a Fucus will be well rewarded for 

 his pains. 



A very free grower on our rocks is the Irish Moss, a red weed,- 

 grandly called Chondrus crispxis. It is a very variable plant, in 

 form and colour, and is therefore trying enough to the learner ; but 

 it claims notice as a " thing of beauty " on account of its 

 iridescence. Its raindow tints are lovely. Corallina officinalis, 

 common coralline, was formerly a sort of "pons asinorum, being 

 looked upon as an animal production, but it is without a doubt a 

 true seaweed, one of a group possessing the power to take up chalk 

 from the water and build up a mineral framework. The chalky 

 weeds are numerous. Some of them, being merely incrustations 

 looking like lichens on the rocks, would not be noticed were it not 

 for their bright colours. These plants have been called NuUipores. 



Among the common objects of our coasts are many interesting 

 plants, large and small, and it would be pleasant to stay awhile 

 amongst them. But our rocks and sands furnish a home for 

 animals as well as plants; indeed, in parts, are coast is " all alive" 

 with curious creatures. Our beach, again, is at times strewn with 

 things, some of which do not belong to us at all, whilst others are 

 washed up from beyond low water mark. It is not possible to say 

 what is really our own, because no dredging has been done. 

 Perhaps one of these days the Folkestone Natural History Society 

 will be rich enough to plan a dredging expedition, with our esteemed 

 Secretary as its head naturalist, Should an assistant be wanted, 

 possibly he might be found. 



Some of my audience are no doubt familiar with the hydra — not 

 the fabled monster with many heads which Hercules killed, but the 

 httle polype. It is a little fresh-water creature, from a quarter to 

 half an inch long, and of extremely simple structure, for it consists 

 merely of a stomach and a mouth, which is surrounded by a ring 

 of tentacles or arms. Hydra viridis is plentifnl in ponds, where it 

 is very often attached to the little floating leaves of the duckweed. 

 Its integument consists of an outer and an inner layer. The arms 

 with which, as we should suppose, the creature catches its prey are 

 provided with cells, which enclose threads — lassos, as Miss Buck- 

 land calls them. Threads are really thrown, in lasso fashion, 

 round and into the body of the unfortunate victim that comes 



