CHAPTER II. 



" The desire which tends to know 

 The works of God, thereby to glorify 

 The great Work-master, leads to no excess 

 That reaches blame, but rather merits praise 

 The more it seems excess ; 

 For wonderful indeed are all His works, 

 Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all 

 Had in remembrance alway with delight." 



Milton. 



CHLOEOSPEEM^E. 



Greek Seaweeds. 



Howeyee much the indolent mind may dislike 

 scientific names and classification, it will be found 

 quite impossible to learn any part of Creation without 

 some effort towards both ; and the pleasure of collect- 

 ing is increased tenfold by a knowledge of the order 

 and the rank each little weed holds in its tiny tide- 

 pool. There is, first of all, the division of colour — 

 red, olive, and green ; within this again, the rising 

 scale of honour in the manner of reproduction, from 

 the simplicity of the green seaweeds, to the complexity 

 of the lately-known Fucus. 



The number of genera, or groups containing varied 

 individuals, is 105 ; the species as yet detected on the 

 British coast may be about 380. Of these the green 

 seaweeds abound near high-water mark, and have little 

 variety, with the exception of CladopJwrce, which con- 

 tains twenty species: they are very beautiful when 

 properly laid out in a seaweed album. 



