138 SEA MOSSES. 



Like God, the Ocean, too, the least can heed, 

 Yearn in a moon-led quest to farthest shore.?, 

 And fondle in delight its smallest weed, 

 Yet look to Him it mirrors and adores. 



J. G. Appleton. 



Order.— RHOD OMELET. 

 Genus.— DASYA* Ag. 



DASYA ELEGANS,f AG. 



Of this genus but one species is found on our 

 Atlantic coast, within the geographical limits which 

 this book is intended to cover. But, happily, this 

 is the most interesting and beautiful representative 

 of the genus, known to our American flora, viz., the 

 Dasya e/egans. 



It is sometimes popularly called " chenille," be- 

 cause in the water it looks very like a piece of 

 that sort of finery. No one acquainted with the 

 appearance of chenille, would, for an instant, mistake 

 a specimen of this elegant Dasya, when seen float- 

 ing in its native element. Out of the water, lodged 

 wet upon the rocks, or mixed with other Algae, it 

 looks more like a stringy mass of pink or purple 



* Dasya = Hairy, 

 t Elegans = Elegant. 



