MAEINE BOTANY. 63 



The variety which attaches itself to mussel shells between 

 tide-marks is generally preferred as less rigid, while the 

 minute shell-fish which cling to its fronds are grateful to 

 the consumers of this simple luxury. By the Highlanders 

 it is called Duillisk, compounded of two Gaelic words, duille, 

 a leaf, and idsqe, water, i.e. the leaf of the water. From 

 uisqe, according to Landsborough, is derived the word 

 whisky, and with the addition of baugh, life, we have the 

 usquebaugh of the Irish (aqua vitae), "the water of life;" 

 but with how much more propriety might it be termed ' ' the 

 water of death ! " 



In different parts of Ireland, the same marine plant is 

 known by the appellation of Dillisk, which also signifies the 

 leaf of the water, for esh means water, and hence the many 

 rivers which bear in Scotland the name of Esk. . Those who 

 dwelt beside the coasts where grew the dulse, used in old 

 times to dry that plant in the sun, and, having rolled it 

 firmly together, to smoke it instead of tobacco. Happy 

 would it have been for many if they had adhered to the 

 plant of their own shores, which, instead of being hurtful, 

 is both wholesome and pleasant, especially when taken fresh 

 from the sea, as is common in the Lowlands ! The same 

 species is also carefully collected on the islands of the Archi- 

 pelago, and is used in ragouts and made-dishes, to which it 

 imparts a red colour, being equally preferred on account of 

 its nutritious qualities and pleasant flavour. The dried 

 frond, when steeped in water, exhales an odour resembling 

 violets ; Dr. Patrick Keill even mentions that it communi- 

 cates a similar flavour to vegetables if mixed with them. 



The branched rhodomenia (R, palmetto) is readily dis- 

 tinguished by its fan-like and rose-red fronds, which are 

 more or less deeply cleft, with rounded interstices and 

 wedge-shaped terminations, as also by deep red spots on 

 each. Those who visit the British coasts in quest of Alga?, 

 may often find this plant on rocks near the verge of low- 

 water, occasionally at a greater depth, . adhering to the 



