INTEODUCTION. 



XV 



In truth, with all due deference to bright pictures of deep sea-rocks, such Lami- 

 narian zone ground as one can get to, is often anything but attractive in general 

 appearance. Nay, it is sometimes particularly dismal and gloomy-looking, owing to 

 the masses of olive plantjs that abound there, and the saturated hue of the rocks. 

 How it may be further down still, one cannot pretend to say. We shall know some 

 day, perhaps, when diving for sea-weeds has become a fasliionable amusement, and 

 an indispensable part of an algologisb's education, and collectors go forth singing, 



" Come with me, and we will go 

 Where the rocks of coral grow." 



But to return to our subject. When low-water mark affords you a long, flat, 

 rocky level to walk upon, the case is decidedly better; for there you are sure to find 

 pools, and some of these will be crystal basins, not thickly crowded and confused 

 with plants, like those higher up, but exquisitely clean and refined, lined with a 

 lilac-pink Ifelohesian incrustation perhaps, or graced at the bottom or sides by a few 

 elegant tufts of, now and then, the exquisite little FolysipJiofiia parasitica (Fig. 128), 

 or the deep green Bryopsis plmnosa (Fig. 286), displaying their feathery forms to 

 the best advantage. Exceeding in beauty the plants of the earth,'' exclaims Dr. 

 Johnson, in a moment of enthusiasm, when speaking of the vegetation of rock-pools, 

 at the conclusion of his Botany of the Eastern Borders. And the compliment has 

 its value, though one knows the words were not intended to be taken aio pied de 

 la lettre. 



Now, on leaving the Laminarian zone of Filey Bridge, you have the opportunity 

 rarely afforded by one mass of rocks, of ascending gradually by a succession of, 

 for the most part, square-cut levels, or ledges, each easy to walk upon, and abounding 

 in pools, up to extreme high- water mark on the top; one part of which is only 

 completely submerged at spring-tides, though always within the influence of spray. 

 And here, as you walk over the fine old riddled surface, nearly a quarter of a mile 

 in extent, you have but to turn to the right hand, where some large blocks of 

 stone rise up in a sloping position, and underneath the slope you may gather handfuls 

 of Catenella opuntia (Fig. 20i), as you stand; while in the adjoining pools the grass- 

 green Enteromorphas (Plates LXX. and LXXI.) come, obedient to the zone law which 

 gives them the upper level as their peculiar habitat. 



Nor are the intermediate levels — hanging-gardens, as it were, of the sea — between 

 high and low- water mark, difficult to be got at, if only you have remembered to 

 put on a strong pair of gloves, and will condescend to use hands as well as feet to 

 ensure your safety. But by this time there is no doubt the disciple will have become 

 as reasonable as nature intended her to be — will have realised the wisdom of wearing:, 

 woollen petticoats among wet rocks, and thick boots when she has to walk over 

 beds of Fucus vesiculosus (Fig. 10), and Jlimanthalia lorea (Fig. 16). 



As to the hanging-gardens themselves, they aff'ord a good opportunity for a minute 

 study of zone vegetation; but this is a subject for the more advanced student, who 

 can open Dr. Harvey's works and follow him in this and other interesting discussions. 

 And now, even among the pools, the old rule holds good — the prettiest things are 

 not to be got at without trouble. The disciple will have to kneel or sit down on the 



