F L U S T R A. 



IJE 



Ovaria : bullulce fupra 



cellulas* 



pitula Hydriformia fun- mouth-like openings of its 

 do adnata exferentes* cells, fuckers or feelers, 



fhaped like the frefh-water po- 

 lype ; thefe are fixt at the 

 bottom of each cell. 



The ovaries appear to be the 

 pearl-like ftuds, which we 

 find at the tops of the cells. 



This genus was formerly called Efchara, before Dr. 

 Linnaeus changed it to Fluftra. The criticks find fault 

 with him for altering the old name ; for my part, I think 

 he has done it very properly. The name of Efchara fig- 

 nifying the cruft on the flefh that proceeds from the 

 wound of a burn, a term ufed in furgery, and therefore 

 improper : but Fluftra, being derived from (phoog, teges, 

 a matt, is more defcriptive of the appearance of thefe 

 fubftances, which look as if they were woven like matts, 

 and therefore much better adapted. 



Befides it was neceflary to feparate the membranaceous* 

 from the ftony fubftances, both of which were formerly 

 under the name of Efchara : other wife we might as well 

 rank the foft, fpongy and flefhy fubftance, called Alcyo- 

 nium digitatum, or Dead-man's toes, as a Madrepora, 

 there being nothing but the difference of their compo- 

 nent parts that prevents it ; the Madrepora being ftony^ 

 and the Alcyonium fpongy. 



i. Fluftra truncata. 



F'luftra foliacea dicho- 

 toma^ laciniis linearibus 

 truncatisy tubulis radica- 

 libus inftruSia* 



Square-top* d Sea Matt, 



This Sea Matt grows in ai 

 fubdivided manner, with nar- 

 row fquare-top'd leaves ; the 

 bafe is furniilied with adhering 

 root-like tubes, 



C2 



Fucus 



