MELANOSPERMEL. 67 
the living state the fronds of this species are soft and slimy to the touch, 
a character which is due to the numerous colourless fibres which clothe 
the whole surface of the frond. The spores are concealed among the 
filaments of which the external layer of the plant is composed. C. divaricata 
is much more rare. Belfast Lough, and the shore at Carrickfergus, being 
hitherto the only recorded British habitats. I have, however, taken it at 
Plymouth, at Shanklin in the Isle of Wight, and in rock pools in the Cum- 
brae Islands ; in the latter it was growing in society with C. flagellifor ms, 
to which it bears a strong resemblance although it is much more branched 
and bushy. The branches spread in all directions, and are very irregularly 
Fie. 70. Chordaria flagellifurmis. 
divided. Many of the ramuli are very short, and some are curved, or 
stand out at right angles from the stem. Care should be observed in 
mounting these plants on paper not to employ too heavy pressure at first, 
otherwise the fronds are apt to adhere to the linen so firmly that they 
tear away on its removal. 
The genus Mesogloia contains three species, which in the living state are 
certainly not very attractive plants, having more the appearance of bundles 
of brown or dark greenish slimy worms than any vegetable production. 
Portions of them, however, when submitted to microscopic examination, 
exhibit a remarkably beautiful arrangement of cellular structure. The 
