If) 



ness in twilight. But surely the powers of the Almighty must not 

 be meted by our limited perceptions. Mystery only commences 

 where our knowledge terminates ; for where our knowledge extends 

 there is no mystery, but harmony and unity. Affinity and analogy 

 pervade all the works of God. 



Why does one clime and one soil endue 



The blushing poppy with an orange hue, 



Yet leave the lily pale, and tinge the violet blue ? 



Paior. 



The color of Algae is as varied and as beautiful as our land- 

 flowering plants ; for although the Alga bears no visible flower, yet its 

 Maker has diffused through its frond, filaments, ramuli, and alb, 

 every hue which the imagination can picture ;— -the sombre black 

 weeds of the rocks, as the Fuci ; the dingy olive of the deep sea, 

 as the Laminati; the shining grass green, as the Ulvi ; the deep 

 blood red, as in the Rhodymenia ; the deep pink, as in the CaU 

 lithamnioni ; the delicate rosy pink, as in the Griffithsiai ; the 

 varied purple, as in :the Porphyri ; and the changeable iridicient 

 hues of the Iridcea. 



" Who ran paint 

 Like Nature? Can imagination boast, 

 Amid her gay creation, hues like these ? 

 What hand can mix them with that matchless skill, 

 And lay them on so delicately fine. 

 And lose them in each other, as appears 

 In every bud that blooms." 



There being no legitimate work published upon our American 

 Algae, I have no other resource, in giving a catalogue of our native 

 species, than to adopt Professor Harvey's system, arranged for the 

 British Algae. In doing so, t shall feel somewhat at a loss when I 

 meet with American genera which are not found in Great Britain; 

 and must, therefore, introduce those where I may think they have 

 the greatest affinily. I have many, also, which are new or unde- 

 termined : these I intend adding in a miscellaneous addenda; 

 hoping, at some future time, when Dr. Harvey's much-desired work 

 appears, to be able to give them their proper station in the American 

 classification. 



