106 • OF THE MARINE ALG.E. 



They are to be found too at all depths. A few, princi- 

 pally Fuci, seem to revel in the scorching rays of the sun, 

 appearing to be quite satisfied with an occasional sprinkling 

 of salt water. Some flourish best about high- water-mark I 

 others where the tide reaches its lowest point ; while large 

 numbers, and those too of the brightest colours, delight to 

 grow in depths to which, it must be supposed, the rays of 

 the sun never penetrate. These latter, of course, are not 

 very easily to be got at ; and the collector must, as a rule, 

 trust to the action of storms and hurricanes to supply the 

 coveted specimens. Nevertheless, if he is blessed with the 

 ' ass triplex ' so requisite for all ' who go down to the sea 

 in ships,' he will do well, when the opportunity occurs, to 

 accompany a fishing crew on one of their trawling expe- 

 ditions. He will be rewarded by finding among the refuse 

 of their nets many an interesting plant, which would other- 

 wise remain beyond his reach. 



The character of the marine vegetation also depends 

 greatly on geographical considerations ; indeed, far more so 

 than does the freshwater Flora. With regard to the Euro- 

 pean coasts, those washed by the Mediterranean, the 

 Adriatic, and other southern seas, abound particularly in the 

 genera included under the great ' Red ' group, known as 

 the Florideae ; while the ' Olive ' genera, the Melanosporeae 

 of systematists, preponderate on the northern shores. As 

 we approach the equator w r e find the Algas assuming a size 

 and brilliancy of colouring far surpassing anything w r e are 

 accustomed to see in the temperate zone. 



[The figures on Plates xvi. and xvn. will assist the young 

 Algologist in recognising members of the great i dark-spored ' 

 group, the commonest on our shores, and generally the first 

 to strike the eye of the beginner. — Ed.] 



