22 HANDY BOOK OF 



a watery nook or beetling crag, where the harsh cry of the 

 lonely sea-bird is often heard above the dashing of the tide, 

 or the murmuring sound of winds sweeping among the 

 cliffs. 



With equal beauty glows the Peacock Padina, (Padina 

 pavonia) on rocks in shallow pools. The general resem- 

 blance of this curious plant to the expanded tail of a 

 peacock has been noticed by authors, and when seen growing 

 under water, the resemblance is peculiarly striking. Few 

 plants are more curious in their structure, or more attractive 

 to the lovers of marine botany, for the filamentary fringes by 

 which the outer portion of the strongly-rolled fronds are 

 adorned separate the rays of light, and produce the most 

 vivid rainbow tints ; and with it is associated the curious 

 fact, that although abounding in the tropical regions, and 

 reaching its northern limits on the southern shores of Eng- 

 land, no charfge whatever is discovered, either in the 

 deepening of colour or luxuriance of vegetation. British 

 specimens, though often exposed by the receding of the tide 

 to every vicissitude of weather, are equally large and well 

 coloured as those of warmer latitudes. 



The elegant, though solitary, Esculenta Alaria {Alaria 

 esculenta) is rarely seen on our southern shores, though 

 abundant on such as are washed by the northern Atlantic 

 and Pacific Oceans. The roughest waters seem most favour- 

 able to its growth, and hence its long and graceful fronds 

 attain the greatest size, and most luxuriant development, 

 in sites covered with rough waves and exposed to the 

 heaviest storms. Such are its wild habitats on the shores 

 of Scotland, and the north and west of Ireland, also Durham 

 and Northumberland, Devonshire, and Cornwall. Those 

 who visit the Land's-End may find this hermit plant fring- 

 ing precipitous rocks at low-water mark, beautiful in its 

 assigned locality, and cheering oftimes the heart with 

 thoughts of love and trust, amid the sternest solitudes of 

 man, 



