68 HANDY BOOK OF 



with its relatives, a distinct family, and derives its specific 

 name from coralium, or coral, which it resembles in being 

 of a stony nature, although decidedly vegetable ; for who- 

 ever macerates a specimen in acid till the lime which it 

 contains is dissolved will discover that it is essentially 

 different from coral, although analogous to many Algae. 



Corallines, widely diffused throughout the shores of all 

 countries within the temperate zones of the Northern At- 

 lantic, perhaps even along those of the Southern and Pacific 

 Oceans, appear at first as thin calcareous and circular patches 

 of a purplish colour, attached to almost every stone or sea- 

 weed between tide-marks. By degrees, small branches 

 become perceptible ; the root assumes a decided character, 

 and the fronds, from one to six inches high, congregate in 

 dense tufts, or spread in continuous patches over a wide 

 surface, differing as respects their general aspect according 

 to the depth at which vegetation generally commences. Few 

 plants present a greater variety, and few are more difficult 

 to specify. They vary both in size and structure, for 

 Nature is ever prodigal in the profusion of her embellish- 

 ments, 



" Some present 

 Large growth of what may seem the sparkling trees, 

 And shrubs of fairy-land ; while others shine 

 Conspicuous, and in bright apparel clad, 

 And fledged in snowy feathers, nod superb." 



The coast of Devon yields an exquisite variety of these 

 marine productions. They are often left by the receding 

 of the tide upon the shore, and as often float by on the 

 sparkling waves. Some appear like little tufts of grass, 

 borne hither and thither by the billows ; others resemble 

 bunches of hair-like tubes, varied with rainbow tints ; a 

 few may be compared to clusters of diminutive beads ; and 

 a large proportion to long brown filaments, covered with a 

 calcareous crust. 



