76 COMMON SEAWEEDS. 



his shrimping net, springing from rock to rock, eager 

 for the shallows where the pretty Prawns are playing. 

 The boy sweeps them up triumphantly, and his little 

 lake of happiness is full. 



We are going for seaweeds. The tin can is slung 

 over one shoulder, an oilskin bag is at our girdle for 

 smaller and more precious specimens, a pole in our 

 hand to steady our feet, with a hook at one end to 

 lift the tangled masses of rough weed away. 



Beautiful the sea to-day, under the clear blue sky, 

 shimmering and sparkling under the light sea breeze, 

 and the bright little waves reluctantly retreating on 

 the sand, or curling and crisping round the rocks. 



¥e have " done " the upper and mid-tide pools ; 

 but they have taught us that better things lie beyond: 

 we have visions of beautiful Plocamium, of the rarer 

 JPolysiplwnias, of Callitliamnions, of Delesseria, and of 

 Dasya. We go at once to the water's edge, and rightly 

 so. Lift up those heavy masses of brown weed any- 

 ivhere, and most certainly you will find pleasure and 

 employment in the crannies and the sandy ledges 

 beneath them. 



Still, let me save from disappointment by forewarn- 

 ing you that seaweeds are as local as land plants ; that 

 even as the primrose and the bluebell, the orchis and 

 the heath, have their peculiar territory and preference 

 of soil, so the seaweeds have choice or necessity to 

 love the north side of the rock in the cool shade, or 

 to lie on the open rock in the full heat of the sun. 



One end of a bay will give abundance of Griffitli- 

 sia ; the other end no Griffithsia, but plenty of J?oly- 

 siplwnia. It will be a matter of experience. 



