NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 155 



VIII. This is of the fame colour, and but very little larger, as Piatexm. 

 likewife of the fame foft woolly fubflance, but without any 

 twigs, and confifts in one flat thin and extended piece, not un- 

 like the ear of a dog, full of pores and fubtle branches, like green 

 leaves when viewed againfl the light. 



IX. This is an orbicular fungous vegetable, of the colour of 

 the former, but not a quarter of an ell long. At one extremity 

 is a round pedicle two inches long, and at the other extremity an 

 aperture, running quite through like the pith in elder. This ve- 

 getable is compremble, but elaftic, immediately recovering its 

 roundnefs ; in foftnefs and delicacy, it exceeds any which I have 

 feen, and unqueftionably might be made ufe of by furgeons, if 

 they could have it at pleafure *. 



X. This vegetable is fomewhat harder, but fmooth and fun- 

 gous. Its colour is a dark brown; it is covered with a thin bark, 

 the infide of which is full of imperceptible, yet very fharp points, 

 of a vitreous nature, fo that it may be ufed in polifhing, but not 

 with the naked hand ; thefe points eafily penetrating into the /kin, 

 and being as difficult to be got out. This grows, like the mufh- 

 room, in deep grounds, and fometimes weighs thirty-two pounds. 

 The fifhermen draw it up with their lines or nets. 



XI. A vegetable three half-quarters of an ell in length, in figure • 

 not unlike the Liguftrum, covered all over with multitudes of 

 fmall angular nodes, fo clofe, and at the fame time fo ilenderly 

 joined, that on the lean 1 making of the branch fome of them fall 

 off. Thefe fmall nodes, which to the naked eye appear like fo 

 many grains of buck-wheat, make a very fplendid appearance thro' 

 the microfcope, as if they were filver and gold laminae, or ihields 

 curioufly embofled with figures. The branch itfelf is round, black, 

 and fmooth. 



XII. This is a very tender incurvated branch, whofe moots 

 likewife are full of glittering points and angles, but its extremity 

 perfectly refembles the Conchae anatiferae, of which I mail fpeak - 

 in another place, the only difference being that the mufcle-fhell 

 is inverted with a thin brownim tegument, and but of half the 



* Concerning thefe fpungy marine Jubilances, fome relate that they have a kind 

 of Syftole, and Diaftole, are that in its mod fubtle parts thefe are difcernible long 

 after its being taken out of the fea, till the total evaporation of all its moifture. 



Part I. Sf big- 



