45 
like a meadow of crimson tint, and the most lovely hue. 
There is no drapery so rich and fair, no embroidered muslin 
or silk of so exquisite a texture, no bright and gay festoons 
so tastefully and elegantly executed, as are to be found be- 
neath the green sea-wave. Those who have leisure to take 
a survey of the various marine plants, will not only derive 
profit, but pleasure, and learn the greatness of Him, who is 
the Maker and Preserver of us all. Some of these seaweeds 
are so small, that their beauty and admirable workmanship 
cannot be discerned without the aid of a microscope ; some 
so large, that ‘‘They have stems which exceed in length, 
though not in diameter, the trunks of the tallest forest 
trees ; and others have leaves, that rival in expansion those 
of the Palm.’’* There is no Pern that grows beneath the 
waters. This Fern, the Sea Spleenwort, is only to be found 
near the sea, with the exception of the lakes of Killarney, 
in Ireland, and a few other places. In Lancashire and 
Berwickshire it is recorded to be found some miles inland. 
On the rocks of the clilfs at Beer, and also at Charlton Bay, 
it is to be seen in various places. No doubt at Lyme, also, 
if they were not constantly quarrying out the stone, it 
would gain a footing. This is a larger plant than the 
Maidenhair Spteenwort (Asplenium trichomanes.) The 
frond is strap-shaped, or slightly lance-shaped, and pinnate. 
The leaflets are dark green, stalked, egg-shaped or oblong, 
serrate, unequal and wedge-shaped at the base. With each 
notch,t not each serrature^ there is a line of fructification. 
The clusters of fruit are rust-coloured, and always separate. 
The stalk is not nearly so long as that of the preceding 
species, and is smooth, polished, and reddish brown at the 
base, if not altogether so. The stalk of the leaflet is gener- 
ally connected to the rachis, or mid-rib by a wing, so that 
the frond may be almost considered pinnatifid. The covers 
are of a light brown colour, and opposite each other. The 
plants grow in tufts. The root-stocks are black and scaly 
or downy, and firmly fixed in the fissures and clefts of the 
rocks. Though the frond is thick and leathery, the veins 
are clearly apparent. The side-veins fork close to the mid- 
vein. The upper branch of the vein bears the fruit. The 
* Harvey*s Manual of British Algae. 
t The notch is deeper than the serratures, and generally contains two serratures. 
