THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



141 



Among the red-spored algae, perhaps the 

 most remarkable is the Common Coralline 

 {CoralHna officinalis). This plant has been 

 the cause of great discussions between 

 scientific persons as to whether it belonged 

 to the animal or vegetable kingdom, and 

 until recently it was assigned a place in the 

 former, but it is now acknowledged as a 

 plant. It possesses the curious property of 

 coating itself with carbonate of lime which 

 it extracts from the sea, the real plant being 

 completely invisible. When thrown upon 

 the shore by the waves, the vegetable portion 

 is withered up and the chalky skeleton alone 

 left. 



Many algae are used as food, notably the 

 Dulse or Dillisk {Rhodymenia palmata). It is 

 gathered in considerable quantities and for- 

 warded to our large towns. On certain 

 coasts it is found in great profusion, while 

 on others it is of rare occurrence. 



Another well-known edible algae is the 

 Irish moss {Chrondus crispus.) It is very 

 variable in colour, and often assumes a 

 yellow, or even a green tinge. 



During the summer months the red dock- 

 leaved Delesseria {Deleserria sanguinea), may 

 often be found cast up by the waves. It 

 closely resembles a leaf, and indeed is often 

 mistaken for such. When mounted on 

 paper it looks exceedingly well. 



To the third series, CHLOROSPERM.ffi, those 

 who keep marine aquaria are much indebted. 

 By placing a few of the more hardy species 

 in the tank, the water is well supplied with 

 oxygen, and thus the lives of the inhabitants 

 are preserved. 



The Sea Grass {Entermorpha compressa), 

 is a plant which may be easly recognized by 

 its name. It seems to thrive best half-way 

 between high and low water marks. 



The Green Laver or Stoke {Ulva latissima) 

 is the best plant for the aquarium, as it not 

 only bears the confinement well, but also 

 gives off an unlimited supply of oxygen. 

 The colour is bright green, and the breadth 



of the frond is generally about six or eight 

 inches. 



Before concluding, I would say a word 

 as regards using salt water in mounting sea 

 weeds. Fresh water is most decidely better, 

 as it frees the plants from salt. It is very 

 difficult to get those to dry which have been 

 mounted in salt water, and even when dry 

 they absorb the damp, and in a short time 

 are completely spoiled. 



BRITISH MOTHS: 



By John E. Robson, 

 (Assisted by Contributors to the Y'N.) 



VII. EPHYRID.S:. Six species in one genus 

 occur in this family. '1 hey are of small size, 

 all expanding a little more than an inch. 

 Most of them have an eyed spot in the centre 

 of the wing. The larvte are slender, but of 

 the usual form. The pupsB are very curious, 

 being suspended by the tail, and with a silken 

 thread round the bo ly exactly like the pupa 

 of a white butterfly. 



VIII. AciDALLD^. A family with between 

 thirty an l forty species in six genera, but 

 more than three-fourths of them are in the 

 typical genus Acidalia- Most of the imagines 

 are of small size, expanding from three- 

 quarters to an inch. They are mostly white, 

 or various shades of grey or ochreous grey, 

 with markings common to both wings, The 

 bind wing of some species is angulated. The 

 larvas are smooth and slender; they feed 

 mostly on low plants by night, and conceal 

 themselves during the day. The pupcB are 

 on the surface among leaves, or just below. 



IX. CABERrD.E. A family with only six 

 species in three genera. With one exception 

 the imagines are white; they expand rather 

 over an inch. The larvae feed on trees, and 

 are of the usual form of the group. The 

 pupa is in a cocoon upon or under the surface. 



X. MACAEID.G. This family only contains 

 four or five species in two or three genera. 



