AFTER A STORM. 125 



It will strike the intelligent observer at once that 

 there must be a strong relationship between the 

 Dasya and the Folysiplwnia ; and so there is : nor 

 could I find a better lesson to test the value of a 

 microscope for classification than with a bit of that 

 coarse brown shaggy weed, Fohjsiplwnia Fastigiata, 

 growing, as you know, on all the Fuci, and with a bit 

 of this delicate feathery crimson Dasya, to show you 

 precisely the same structure of stem, siphons ranged 

 round a central tube, urn-shaped fruit containing 

 spores, tetraspores — though here the difference is 

 found: in Folysiplwnia they are immersed in swollen 

 ramuli ; here, they are borne in lanceolate pods. But 

 there is a near relationship, consequently you will find 

 them in the S} 7 nopsis close together in rank. 



Dasya Occellata. — On mud-covered rocks, rare. 

 The name was doubtless given because of the eye-like 

 spots caused by the density of the ramuli at the tips 

 of the branches. The waving plumes are like little 

 peacock's feathers. It is usually dredged up from 

 muddy banks, but was discovered by Mrs. Griffiths 

 ou the pier at Torquay. 



Dasya Arbuscula. — On the rocks near low-water 

 mark ; not certainly common, and yet, perhaps, often 

 overlooked or mistaken for a Callitliamnion by young 

 collectors who do not use the microscope. 



The texture of a Dasya, as well as its fruit, can never 

 be mistaken when once seen. 



Dasya YE^usTiE. — This we only find cast ashore in 



