970 
CRYPTOGAMIA. 
TREMEL'LA. Seeds dispersed through a jelly-like substance. 
UL'VA. Seeds dispersed through its substance, growing in 
water ; (fronds membranous or gelatinous. E.) 
BYS'SUS. Substance, wool-like fibres. 
CONFER'VA. Fibres hair-like, simple or branched, often 
jointed, growing in water : (or, according to Dillwyn and 
Smith: 
Seeds produced within the substance of the capillary or 
jointed frond, or inclosed tubercles united with it. E.) 
FU'CUS. Substance leather-like : Fruit globular, capsule-like ; 
or granulations within the substance, with an open pore 
above them. 
FUNGI * 
(1) Seeds on the under surface. 
MERU'LIXJS. Pileus with gills underneath, of the same sub¬ 
stance with the rest of the plant. 
imports; for these productions, constituting the contiguous extremities of the two king¬ 
doms, wherein the distinctions fade away so gradually, 
“ Shade unperceived, so softening into shade,” 
that different learned naturalists have arranged them under either) ; emulating, and even 
exceeding, in fantastic form and diversity of brilliant colour, whatever appears on 
the more exposed surface of the earth, and, in particular situations, rising from the 
bosom of the deep, occasionally so densely commingled as actually to obstruct naviga¬ 
tion. The more minute animals are ever found to be the most productive, and even these 
vast compages, which in the course of ages aspire towards the surface of the waters, are 
themselves the artificial formation and habitation of incalculably numerous reptiles and 
insects, exceeding in industry and power either the proverbial bee or emmet. These 
masses are again intermixed, and often crowned, with a profusion of real vegetables; and thus 
do the two kingdoms of nature co-operate in establishing the basis, not only of rocks and 
shoals, but eventually of superincumbent islands, while their inmost recesses are teeming 
with existence, “ wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.” 
Whatever has been ascertained in the structure 'and economical uses of the Marine Algae, 
(which appear to have passed altogether unnoticed by the most intelligent nations of 
antiquity,) will be found in our fourth volume. It will be only here necessary further to 
remark, that in the midst of these fastnesses do myriads of fishes deposit their spawn, and 
there securely do the young inhabitants shelter, till strong enough to encounter the agita¬ 
tions of the more open sea. These same weeds, not improbably, supply various animals 
with food ; and are themselves preserved from violence and a degree of friction from the- 
troubled element, which might otherwise quickly disorganize their delicate texture ; by a 
lubricating glutinosity, (which also may have a tendency to obtund the acrimony of the 
saline particles,) not very dissimilar to that which facilitates the rapid movements of the 
finny race. But this nether vegetable world, peopled by countless tribes of animated' 
beings, is but too likely to remain a hidden mystery ; unless indeed the art of subma¬ 
rine navigation, as yet in its infancy, should ultimately reward scientific zeal with a sublime 
disclosure of the wonders of i( the fifth day.” E.) 
* (No sooner have the choicest gifts of Flora disappeared, and the <£ golden pines of 
the year” faded away, than a succession of curious productions bedeck the earth, con- 
