46 



FUCUS NODOSUS. 



or slightly cover many a sharp point, — in the 

 former of which a limb may be easily broken, 

 and by the latter a serious wound inflicted, — 

 and there is special reason for avoiding any 

 such mishap. Proverbially, time and tide wait 

 for no man ; and should a disabling accident 

 occur when no one was near to help, the return- 

 ing waters would bring death in their train — a 

 death the more terrible from its slow but relent- 

 less advance. 



Now, the reader must be careful not to con- 

 found with Fucus vesiculosus another species of 

 somewhat similar appearance, namely Fucus 

 nodosus; see plate J, fig. 1. 



This plant may at once be distinguished from 

 the Common Bladder-wrack, by the absence of a 

 midrib ; it is of a tough consistence, and it grows 

 to a large size, being sometimes nearly six feet in 

 length. 



About half-way between high and low water 

 another species of fucus may be found : this is 

 destitute of air-vessels, it lacks the sliminess of 

 the bladder-wrack, and its edges are toothed, like 

 the edge of a saw. It is much about the same 

 size as the bladder-wrack, but perhaps rather 

 longer ; see plate d, fig. 2. 



This is a very useful plant indeed. It is a 



