8 SEA MOSSES. 



description, which is more than can be said of most 

 human patronymics. The names of plants are mostly 

 terms descriptive of some notable fact in their appear- 

 ance, habit, structure, place of growth, or fruiting. 

 The significance of the names will, as far as possible, 

 be indicated as we come to them. 



Before passing from this point, I must not forget 

 to say, that you may be intelligently interested in 

 these charming plants ; be an admirer of their brilliant 

 and varied colors, their graceful outlines, and their 

 slender and delicate forms ; may, perhaps, be an en- 

 thusiastic collector of them, and more deeply in love 

 with them than many " marble hearted " botanists are, 

 and yet, never care anything at all about a scientific 

 knowledge of them, or give them a single hour's scien- 

 tific study. Scores of people have for years gathered 

 these " flowers of the sea," and arranged them on 

 cards, and mounted them in books and albums, who 

 never knew them other than as " Sea Mosses," 

 and never cared to. You may do the same if you 

 choose. In that case you will find this introductory 

 chapter, all the guide you will need. If you have not 

 time or inclination to study them, do not neglect them 

 on that account. To the taste that appreciates the 

 beautiful in form, or color, they are an endless source 

 of pleasure, and a sure means of cultivation. The 



