142 SEA MOSSES. 



plant is very common throughout the season on the 

 northern shores of both the Atlantic and Pacific 

 Oceans. 



It is somewhat variable in appearance, yet when 

 once seen, it is ever afterwards easily recognized. 

 The filaments are much finer and softer than in the 

 last species, and grow in a loose tuft, four to eight 

 inches high. When taken from the water the plant 

 is flaccid and silky, with a deep, fuD, rich red color. 

 But when mounted on paper, dry, the filaments are 

 rigid and bristly to the touch, and turn to a dark 

 brown or black with a reddish shade, generally, in 

 places, or over the whole plant. The main stems 

 are from one to three times the thickness of a 

 human hair. They are much branched. But the 

 branches, though somewhat spiney below, do not 

 themselves branch till they have attained a consider- 

 able length, when they divide and sub-divide rapidly, 

 making the upper portion of the frond assume a 

 dense and bushy look. 



In spreading out on paper, it naturally takes a 

 fan -shaped outline, with a tendency in the main' 

 branches to separate from each other, and in the 

 finer varieties to appear twisted. When dried and 

 pressed, there is often a glossy and silk-like appear- 

 ance to the specimen. 



