DICTYOTJM i: v.. SI 



Dictyopteris polypodioides, JLamx. D. i 



polypodioides, Desf. F. membranaceus, Stack. 1". ambij 



I I'lva polj podioides, / 



Hob. Atlantic shores of Britain, On rocks and .-tone- in I 



from two to five fathoms. Perennial Summer and autumn. 



Tin- appellation of this species is in allusion to the resem- 

 blance wnich its fructification bears to thai of a Polypo- 

 In the British [slands it is decidedly rare, and 

 chiefly found on the southern and western Bhores. It does 

 not appear to be found in Scotland. In the south of Eu- 

 rope it is common, especially in the Mediterranean, and has 

 been brought from the tropics of either hemisphere, 

 vera] other species of // - are now known, all natives 



of warm latitudes, and all with much the same hand. It is 

 abundant in the Tropical Ocean, and reaches its northern 

 limit on the southern Bhores of England. 



XYI. PA DIN A. 



31. pavonia {The peacock' 's-t 'ail Padina); frond between mem- 

 branaceous and coriaceous, broadly fan-shaped, entire 

 deeply cleft, powdery on it- outer but 

 numerous, Lamour. J)i<-f. CUu. tPHist. Nat. v, \'i. p. 589. 

 (Atlas', PL IX. Fig. 35.) 



Padina Mediterranea, Bory. Dictyota pavonia, Zonaria 



pavonia, A//, llva pavonia, Linn. Q. cucuilata. Cav. FuCUS 



pavonius, Linn. 

 Hob. Southern coasts of England. On rocks in shallow pools, at 



half-tide level. Annual. Summer and autumn. 

 So singular a Bpecies as this is could not fail to 

 served at an early period, and notices of it occur in Bauhin 



and Other early writers. An excellent accounl is given by 



Ellis, accompanied by a figure with very 

 tions, in his celebrated work on Corallines, into which he 

 has introduced it. not on the supposition of its animal na- 

 ture, hut from the elegance of its form, and singularity. Its 

 genera] resemblance to the expanded tail of the peacock has 

 been noticed by all anthers. When viewed growing under 

 water, this resemblance is peculiarly Btriking, the I 

 of capillary fibres which adorn it, decomposing the r 

 light, and giving rainbow colours to the Burface. it is 

 abundant in the Tropical Ocean, and rthern 



limit on the Bouthern shoi zland. 



