Sporochmis jpeduncidatus, though found in several widely sepa- 

 rated places on the English and Irish coasts, is nowhere very 

 common, and thus recommends itself by its rarity, as well as its 

 beauty, to the collector. Few objects, indeed, are more attractive 

 to the eye of a botanist than a fine frond of this species, as it 

 waves its feathery branches in the water ; but were the use of the 

 dredge more general with algologists, this, and many other deep 

 water plants, would, probably cease to be regarded as of rare 

 occurrence; and we should be better acquainted with their 

 habits, and the exact localities which they frequent. Most of the 

 specimens now collected, are washed up by the tide, frequently 

 in an imperfect, or decaying condition ; or picked out of fisher- 

 men's nets, in the meshes of which they get entangled and torn. 

 If raised by the dredge they would not only be found more per- 

 fect, but in far greater plenty. 



Hudson was the first to describe this species, in his ' Flora 

 Anglica.' It is of rare occurrence on the Continent, and has not 

 been found out of Europe. Agardh regards as a distinct species, 

 a Spanish plant which closely resembles it, and which differs 

 chiefly from our S. pedmicidatus, in the form of the receptacles. 

 It is not improbable that this also may be found on our southern 

 shores. 



The genus Sporoc/mns, as now restricted, contains four or five 

 species, none of which, except the- present, have yet been found 

 in Britain. They are natives of the warmer parts of the Tenf- 

 perate zones of both hemispheres, where they inhabit deep, quiet 

 bays. Those of New Holland are of a much larger size than 

 our British species, but have a very similar habit. 



Fig. 1. Sporochnus pedunculatus : — the natural size. 2. Receptacles of 

 different ages. 3, A filament from the same. 4. A transverse section of 

 the stem : — all magnified. 



