106 
OF THE MARINE ALGAL 
They are to be found too at all depths. A few, princi- 
pally Fuci, seem to revel in the scorching rays of the sun, 
appearing to be quite satisfied with an occasional sprinkling 
of salt water. Some flourish best about high-water-mark ; 
others where the tide reaches its lowest point ; while large 
numbers, and those too of the brightest colours, delight to 
grow in depths to which, it must be supposed, the rays of 
the sun never penetrate. These latter, of course, are not 
very easily to be got at ; and the collector must, as a rule, 
trust to the action of storms and hurricanes to supply the 
coveted specimens. Nevertheless, if he is blessed with the 
i ass triplex ’ so requisite for all 1 who go down to the sea 
in ships,’ he will do well, when the opportunity occurs, to 
accompany a fishing crew on one of their trawling expe- 
ditions. He will be rewarded by finding among the refuse 
of their nets many an interesting plant, which would other- 
wise remain beyond his reach. 
The character of the marine vegetation also depends 
greatly on geographical considerations ; indeed, far more so 
than does the freshwater Flora. With regard to the Euro- 
pean coasts, those washed by the Mediterranean, the 
Adriatic, and other southern seas, abound particularly in the 
genera included under the great ‘ Eed ’ group, known as 
the Floridese ; while the ‘ Olive ’ genera, the Melanosporea> 
of systematists, preponderate on the northern shores. As 
we approach the equator we find the Algce assuming a size 
and brilliancy of colouring far surpassing anything we are 
accustomed to see in the temperate zone. 
[The figures on Plates xvi. and xvii. will assist the young 
Algologist in recognising members of the great 1 dark-spored r 
group, the commonest on our shores, and generally the first 
to strike the eye of the beginner. — Ed.] 
