98 SEA-WEEDS. 



the Mixon. It can be reached only by means of a 

 boat, and can be examined only at low water of spring- 

 tides, and then only (at least with any comfort) provi- 

 ded no sea is running, as otherwise the breakers wash 

 over the mass, and prevent examination. A wet foot 

 is pretty sure to be an accompaniment of the expedi- 

 tion, for the angular blocks, offering, here only project- 

 ing points, and there surfaces sloping in all angles of 

 obliquity, and draped with wet and slippery beds of 

 Enter omorphcB and other weeds, afford but a preca- 

 rious foot-hold for one used to these rough rocks, and 

 to an unpractised tread are sure to prove treacherous. 

 Tn summer, however, a partial immersion in these 

 crystal waters is an evil of no terrible magnitude. 



The Laminarim luxuriate on the shelving outer 

 margin, and toss their broad brown fronds to and fro 

 in the rolling seas, like forest trees that rock in the 

 gales of autumn. But it is chiefly the red and green 

 families of Algss that flourish here ; the Winged and 

 the Sinuated Belesserim ; the excessively ramified 

 Plocamium, whose brilliant crimson trees are so much 

 in demand by those who make mimic landscapes out 

 of dried sea-weeds ; the pencilled Polysiphonim ; 

 the brush-like Z)asya ; the feathery P^«7ote; and va- 

 rious species of elegant Ceramia, so easily recognised 

 by their regularly jointed stems and double incurved 

 tips ; and the tender Callithamnia, among the most 

 delicately lovely, though the most minute of marine 

 Algse. Several species of Cladophora, also, here 

 spring from the rocky surface in greater or less abun- 

 dance, forming pencil-like tufts of various hues of 

 green, some indeed dull and sombre, but others bril- 



