HANDY BOOK 



OE 



MARINE BOTANY, 



CHAPTER I. 



By botanists, these sea- weeds are termed Algcs ; a name 

 which is applied to a large group of flowerless plants, and 

 which form the vegetable kingdom of the waters. "The 

 sea, in no climate from the Poles to the Equator, is altogether 

 free from them, though they abound on some shores much 

 more than on others. Species abound likewise in fresh 

 water, whether running or stagnant, and in mineral springs. 

 The strongly impregnated sulphureous streams of Italy, 

 the eternal snows of the Alps and arctic regions, and the 

 boiling springs of Iceland, have each their peculiar species; 

 and even chemical solutions, if long kept, produce Algae. 

 Yery few, comparatively, inhabit stations which are not 

 submerged, or exposed to the constant dripping of water ; 

 and, in all situations where they are found, great dampness, 

 at least, is necessary to their production." 



One great advantage in the study of the marine Algae is, 

 that they may be laid out upon paper and dried, in which 

 state of preservation they will display, with beautiful effect, 

 their various peculiarities of structure and colour. They 

 may, when thus preserved, be placed into books, and become 

 admirably adapted for the drawing-room or parlour table, 

 and when arranged, with their proper names and the dates 

 and situations where they were found annexed to them, 

 they serve as most pleasing memorials of "moments of 

 sweetness past," upon which the fond memory may delight 

 to dwell. We encourage, therefore, all who may peruse this 

 little work, and who may have opportunity of collecting 



