INTRODUCTION. 



Xlll 



But "unprotected females" have no business to be running risks for the sake of 

 "vile sea- weeds;" and, for their consolation be it known, that althou^^h that bewitching 

 Chry^ijmenia rosea lurks in just such fearful corners, only attainable at spring-tides, 

 and only uncovered then for a very short time, yet as fine a specimen as has ever 

 been found of it was floated into a shallow tide-pool that formed round a large 

 stone on the sands of Filey Bay! 



But having said thus much for the happy chances which often attend wrech- 

 gathering, as distinguished from roc^-gathering, it is fair to add, that all low-water 

 hunting-ground is not of the same inaccessible character. In flat open bays and 

 shores, with rock- fields of moderate height, you have only to look out for not being 

 surrounded by back-water, and may, if you are indifferent to noise and dreariness, 

 prowl up and down the fruitful wet lanes that lie between the different masses, to 

 your heart's content. Of this kind is the glorious coast to the north of Berwick- 

 upon-Tweed, where hundreds of collectors might work together without ever interfering 

 with each other, so great is its extent; and where, when beaten back by the tide, 

 you find extensive upper caves, into whose shadowy pools the wreck has been floated 

 unscathed and unfaded, and where you may pick it out for another hour or two 

 longer. Into these caves come from time to time the tiny fronds of the scarce 

 Mliodymenia cristata (now JEatliora cridata^ Fig. 184), as dear to an algologist's eye 

 as a nugget of gold. 



And somewhat of the same character (the caves excepted) is G-risthorpe Bay, 

 between Scarborough and Filey, where (all but back-water) the only risk you can 

 run, is of slipping by a false step into some of the enormous pools with which it abounds, 

 and which are deep, though not always dangerously so. But there are such things 

 as Tiappif accidents, and it was a tumble into one of these sea- weed repositories which 

 a few years ago revealed the then rather surprising^ fact, that the whole bottom of 

 the pool was lined with fine large plants of Odonthalia dentata (Fig. 99); a species 

 at one time supposed to flourish no farther south than the county' of Durham. A 

 "happy accident" this, were it only for the assurance it gives of how much remains 

 to be done in the exploration of different localities! 



But even in reflecting upon the best and easiest shores, such as the choice one 

 of Douglas Bay, Isle of Man, for instance, it must be owned that a low-water-mark 

 expedition is more comfortably undertaken under the protection of a gentleman. He 

 may fossilize, or sketch, or even (if he will be savage and barbaric) shoot gulls, 

 though one had rather not; but no need, anyhow, to involve him in the messing 

 after what he may consider "rubbish;" unless, happily, he be inclined to assist. 



Meanwhile let the loving disciple who cannot obtain such help, take things easy. 

 It is a fine thing to get as far as you can, of course; but she will do sufficiently 

 well, as has been shown, without straining the point. We could whisper to her of 

 a shore and pools at St. Mary's, Scilly, where, without running into hazards or 

 among Laminaria plants, she may deck herself over from top to toe with the crimson 

 fronds of JRlwdymenia laciiiiata (now Callopliyllis laciniata, Fig. 179) and Kallymenia 

 reniformis (Fig. 215), or the lighter rose-coloured ones of JSfitophyllums HillicB and 

 punctatum (Figs. 175, 171); even as the robins covered over the babes in the wood 

 with leaves ! And really, as a general rule, it would be scarcely possible to saj" that 



