in which work a figure is given which coincides in most characters 

 with the narrower and browner of our figures, and on which 

 is grounded the idea of the Laminaria fascia of Agardh, and 

 succeeding authors. In Greville's ' Scottish Crypt. Flora ' ano- 

 ther figure, resembling our broadest form, is represented under 

 the name of Laminaria debilis, a name first proposed by Agardh 

 for specimens sent to him from the coast of Spain. At first 

 sight these forms appear to be abundantly distinct, the long 

 strap-shape of one contrasting with the broadly ovate form of the 

 other. But the slight importance to be attached to such varia- 

 tions becomes at once evident to any observer who collects the 

 plant in any quantity, on its native rock, and to whom specimens 

 ranging from the broadest to the narrowest, occur in the same 

 locality. Prom a very extensive suite of specimens from several 

 parts of the coast, and of all shapes and sizes I have selected a 

 few for illustration, in which a gradation of form is well shewn 

 from the broad, abruptly stipitate L. debilis to the ribbon-like 

 L. fascia. In uniting these under one specific head, I, of course, 

 preserve the trivial name which was first proposed. 



Specimens gathered at the Falkland Islands, by Dr. Lyall, are 

 identical with some of the British varieties ; and with the L. 

 cuneata, of Suhr, which is obviously a transition plant, having a 

 broadish frond, with a long cuneate base. 



Tig. 1. Laminaria fascia, different varieties : — natural size. 2. Part of the 

 frond: — magnified, to shew the surface cellules. 3. Section of the same, 

 showing the internal structure. 



