118 SEA MOSSES. 



of o|)|>ositc secondary branches, and these again in 

 like manner by their branchlcts. All the divisions 

 arc long and the ultimate parts very fine and hair- 

 like. Indeed, a large and l>cautirul plant in my hcr- 

 Iwirium ])resents an appearance not unlike that of 

 long, wavy tresses of hair. If it never received the 

 popular name of " Mcrm.iid*b hair," it is quite time 

 it was christened that. It is re|K)rted very common 

 along all our northern shores, from February to 

 Novcml>cr, and less common in southern waters in 

 the summer. 



pF.SMARf:STlA ACX'I.FJlTA, I^M. 



This pbnt is found the year around, growing at 

 low tide and in deep water. It is very coninaon so 

 that special localities need not l>c nam*" • Trond, 

 cylindrical at l>ase, but soon flattening ; in a plant a 

 foot and a half high, as thick as a sparrow's quill. 

 iJranchcs, alternate, irregular, half forking, much flat- 

 tene<l, from one-twelfth to one-eighth of an inch wide 

 two or three limes sub-divided. The young plants, 

 and apparently the younger parts of all the plants, 

 are clothe^l with opposite pencils of fine, beautiful 

 olive-green filaments, from one-sixteenth to one-half 

 an inch long. A larger plant l>efore me, collected 

 at Marblehead, Mass., in .\ugust, has them very short ; 



