THE SEA-WEEDS AT HOME AND ABROAD. 289 
and these again dividing into smaller branchlets; or the 
broad, thin, membranous leaf throwing out similar but 
smaller ones from its edges; the seed-vessels often display- 
ing much beauty and elegance of design, and variously dis- 
tributed in the leaves; add, too, that gathered at almost any 
season, they make pretty specimens for the album, either as 
portions of the plant or even as fragments, it were no won- 
der that equally with the child and the adult the Rhodo- 
sperms become favorites, and are considered foremost among 
the wonders of the sea. 
Attracted by the brilliant crimson feathery bit which now 
comes riding on the crest of the wave, the attempt to secure 
it as a prize is suecessful. It came from deep soundings, 
and has been torn off from the friendly support of some 
gigantic kelp, by a sudden swell or rude wind. Thousands 
of just such bits, and some of them several inches long and 
broad, you can pick out of that drift high up on the beach. 
It is the Ptilota serrata, and though so common here, should 
you chance to gather alge on the coast of California you 
will find it there, the denizen of the Atlantic and Pacific 
alike, while those who collect for amusement from the 
beaches of Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, etc., may 
find another, P. elegans, likewise found at Beverly and its 
neighborhood, a smaller and softer plant with jointed pin- 
iiis. On the tips of the main branches, and enclosed by 
the curving of the smaller, are lodged the pretty concep- 
tacles or seed caskets, giving the plants a feature of interest. 
The species of Ptilota are not numerous, but they are found 
in most parts of the world. A still more beautiful fragment 
is this which I have at this moment rescued; I find it fre- 
quently with the last but seldom can I find a perfect piece, 
such as is now lying on my study table at home, from the 
English coast. In outline and ramification a little like 
Ptilota, but its dichotomous branches are two-edged with a 
sort of thickened midrib, its color a dark lake, and it dries 
into good shape. It has two kinds of seeds, some growing 
AMER. NATURALIST, VOL. IV. 87 
