THE HALE-TIDE POOL. 71 



CHONDBT7S. 



(Name signifying " cartilage," from the toughness of its frond.) 



Generic character. — A flat, cartilaginous frond, di- 

 vided into branching lesser fronds of purplish or livid 

 red colour. 



Fructification. — 1. Tubercles, or warts, composed 

 of radiating threads, whose lower joints transform 

 into spores. 2. Tetraspores collected into sort, im- 

 mersed in the substance of the frond. 



Cho^detts Crisptjs. — As we pass on to deeper 

 pools, between half-tide and low water, we shall find 

 abundance of this seaweed, better known as Irish moss, 

 or carrageen moss, sold once as high as 2s. Gel. per lb., 

 whilst in repute with physicians as a light and easily- 

 digested food for invalids. This plant varies exceed- 

 ingly in size and colour : in shallow pools, small, pale, 

 and stunted ; whilst in the shadow of a great rock, or 

 down at the bottom of a deep pool, how rich is the 

 purple red and reddish-green thick fronds in dense 

 masses, from beneath which the Prawn will dart, the 

 little fish spring forth, the tiny Crab squats squint- 

 ing for its food, and pretty yellow Nerits and purple 

 Trochi slowly climb the fronds ! Probably, on the 

 edges of Chondrus Crispus the spores of a Polysiphonia 

 or of that vagabond Ceramium Bubrum have vegetated, 

 and a delicate pencil of rose-coloured filaments may 

 prove a Callithamnion. This is rather too coarse a 

 weed for the album : it requires much pressure, and 

 the application of a little isinglass, to make it adhere 

 to paper, but young specimens will be ornamental. 



