154 NATURAL H I S T O R Y of NORWAY. 



which is the moft common in thefe feas, is often found the fea- 

 ftar, which mail hereafter be defcribed under the name of Stella 

 Arborefcens, or, if my fancy may take place, of Caput Medufe, 

 and this creature from its delight in this vegetable may be con- 

 ceived to make it vital food, at leafl: I have met with it in feveral 

 branches of this fpecies. 



IV. This is an ell and half in length, a full inch diameter, 

 extremely porous, die twigs fcabrous and curled towards their 

 extremities; bearing round nuts of the bignefs of a fmall nutmeg. 

 This branch is of a ftraw colour, but I have another of the fame 

 kind, which, though of nearly the fame growth and figure, is 

 very different in colour, being of a deep red, which renders it 

 very fightly. 



V. This piece is two ells and half long; and the only one I 

 could obtain immediately after its being taken out of the water; 

 and confequently faw it full of fap, frefh in colour, and in all its 

 vigour. It was then far more beautiful than, fmce it was dried, 

 being then of a lively red, or a fiery yellow. The chief limb is 

 as thick as a child's arm, and the twigs as a finger. At each ex- 

 tremity is an oblong excrefcence, like a fmall pear, but this fruit 

 or leaf, I know not which to call it, is of the fame fubftance as 

 the flock itfelf, a circumftance common to all fea- trees, none of 

 them bearing thin leaves. Having laid it in the window to dry, it 

 diftilled a mucilaginous liquor of the fame colour, but of a flrange 

 unpleafant fmell. Whilft this vegetable retained its moifture, it 

 had fome refemblance to human fiefh, with fome minute iner- 

 ftices like pores, but upon the ftems being dried and fhrivelled, 

 they became larger, fo that now both in colour and figure it re- 

 fembles ginger. 



VI. This branch is not fo fightly, and fomething lefs than the 

 former, to which both in colour and fubftance it is fimilar, but 

 not in figure, it being} as the plate fhews, flatter and coarfer. 



VII. This branch again is lefs than the former, but far more 

 fightly, confifting of a bufhy affemblage of many fmall twigs. 

 It is not thicker than a quill, fpungy within and woolly without, 

 as if covered over with the fineft cloth. Its colour is a pale yel- 

 low: It has a flat root, preferved better than any of the reft, by 

 which, this fpecies is connected with the rock. 



VIII. 



