56 THE OCEAN. 
Tue Pracocn’s Tain (Padina pavonia). 
fringed with exceedingly minute filaments, which, in 
a living state, often reflect the prismatic colours of 
the rainbow. 
Perhaps the most lovely of all the Fuci is the De- 
lesseria sanguinea, which is a common species. It 
consists of several oblong-oval or pointed leaves, of 
extreme delicacy, with the edges very much waved 
or plaited, furnished with a midrib and side-veins, 
which materially increase their leaf-like appearance; 
the colour is an exceedingly rich rose-pink. The 
midrib often throws out smaller leaves, which, if 
the main frond be destroyed, soon attains its usual 
size; an interesting provision against the accidents 
to which these apparently frail plants are neces- 
sarily exposed. The fructification of this genus is 
curious, as being of a twofold character: both 
