NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 153 



reafoning, that thefe being natives of another element will repell 

 fire * 



I. This is the above-mentioned largeft branch, feven mcnes Sfk>m 

 diameter, but only on one fide, the other being fomewhat fmaller, henc 1 e the 



J J ' t) ' number 



fo as to form a flat cube. The lefler twigs of an ell high, which according to 

 ftand parallel to each other, and form a pretty intexture, are of 

 the fame figure. The bark or thin rind which may be peeled off 

 is of a carnation colour. The wood is of a clear white and very 

 porous, with orifices large enough to admit a larding-pin without 

 hurting the wood. In what manner the branch terminated, is 

 unknown to me, it being broke towards the end, and without 

 this accident, proportionate expanfion muft have render'd it not 

 only too big for my mufeum, but poflibly for my houfe. 



II. This piece is two ells in length, and entire, as are all the 

 following. The wood is compact as if without bark or rind, the 

 fpread of the twigs like that of a currant buih, here and there a 

 little more incurvated, perfectly fmooth, of a clear yellow, and 

 towards the tips or ends, as flender as a brittle, with fmall mofiy 

 filaments hanging here and there among the twigs. 



III. This is three ells and a half long, with thin and foft twigs, 

 refembles the artemifia, only expands itfelf more on the fides, 

 which is ufual in marine trees: In the thickeft part of this branch 

 the wood is pretty firm, with invifible pores, but the twigs to 

 their very extremities are ftudded all over with little boffes, of the 

 bignefs of half a pea, and thefe again fpotted with dark 'boffes; 

 the general colour is a darkifh brown, 'in one of the cavities of 

 this branch, I found a fmall white capfula, of a chalky fubftance 

 and in it an infedt like a bug, which upon the capfula s being 

 opened, was immediately in motion. This branch pretty much 

 refembles thofe mentioned by Wormius, in his Mufcum, p. 234 

 under the name of Plant* Marin* facie refed*, likewife Clufius 

 Exot. L. vi. C. 6. In the branches of this kind of marine wood, 



* The natural and proper ufe of thefe fea-trees, and the like marine veo-etables k 

 unquefhonably for the retreat and nourifliment of the fifr; of wh ch forn^ a" on the 

 land, are predatory, l mng by (laughter; whilit others of more ^b^lL^ 



ZZ orlnnecetfary, Lugh often IVr^ed 2^3^°^ ** ^ 



which 



