THE SHORES OF BRITAIN. 51 
purchased, there was no reason why he should not. 
He accordingly stayed behind for a minute or two, 
and when he rejoined me, was loaded with a supply 
of the same plant, which he continued to munch 
with much apparent relish as we pursued our walk.”* 
Mr. Drummond, however, it must not be concealed, 
gives a somewhat different account, both of the part 
which is eaten and its flavour, and as his observations 
refer to the coast of Antrim, it is not egsy to account 
for the conflicing statements, except by supposing 
some variation of taste in different neighbourhoods 
or individuals. The latter gentleman says, “It is 
often gathered for eating, but the part used is the 
leaflets, and not the midrib, as is commonly stated. 
These have a very pleasant taste and flavour, but 
soon cover the roof of the mouth with a tenacious 
greenish crust, which causes a sensation somewhat 
like that of the fat of a heart or kidney. These 
leaflets are quite membranaceous when young, but 
in full-grown plants are fleshy, and at their middle 
a quarter of an inch or more in thickness.” + 
The Dulse of the Scottish coast, which was just 
now described, must not be confounded with the 
Dulse of the southern shores of England. This is 
a very different plant (Jridea edulis), having little 
resemblance to it, except in being eatable. It con- 
sists of a short stem expanding into an oval leaf, 
without rib or veins, sometimes a foot and a half 
long, and eight or ten inches wide. It is thick and 
fleshy, of a deep blood-red hue, the surface smooth 
and glossy. It is not frequently found, however, in 
* Bot. Ram. 279. + Mag. Zool. and Bot. ii. 148. 
