xvi 



PREFACE. 



of the munificence of the Creator, — who, when 

 he clothed the valleys and the mountain- 

 sides with verdure, forgot not to fringe the 

 caverns of the deep with plants of lovely form, 

 and varied hue, — but also from among those 

 who, in the midst of crowded cities, can turn 

 with a pure taste from the pursuits and associ- 

 ations of common life, to the study of that great 

 book in which the philosophic mind will always 

 recognize and admire the distinct tracery of the 

 hand of the great Creator of all things. 



Contemporaneously, too, with this popular 

 display of interest, there have issued from the 

 press several inexpensive and useful publica- 

 tions, so constructed and arranged as to assist 

 the uninitiated student in his earlier essays. 



Even those who do not pretend to the study 

 of the marine Algae in a scientific spirit, will 

 derive much pleasure from the collection and 

 preservation of the numerous varied and inte- 

 resting specimens which are so beautifully con- 

 spicuous when neatly laid out upon paper, and 

 arranged with taste. 



Nor need the young student who aspires to 

 become an algologist, doubt that he will be 



