Page:Once a Week Volume V.djvu/508

 . 26, 1861.] Gracilaria lichenoides—known in this country as Ceylon moss—is an article of some importance in tsits [sic] native countries, being much used both for making a nutritious jelly, and as a size and varnish. The edible birds’ nests, of which the Chinese make their highly-prized birds’-nest soup, are said to be, in a great measure, constructed of this or some similar species. To these we may add Porphyra vulgaris, the purple laver, which, notwithstanding its close resemblance to the ulvæ, is now classed among the Rhodosperms, with which it agrees in the possession of tetraspores and antheridia. The nutritious properties of these seaweeds are chiefly due to the presence in all of them of a substance named gelose. According to M. Payen, a French chemist, to whom we owe the discovery of this nutritious principle, one part of pure gelose dissolved in five hundred parts of boiling water will afford ten times as much jelly as the same weight of the best animal gelatine. In addition to gelose, most of the edible seaweeds contain more or less starch, mannite, and albumen. There seems, however, to be little chance of the use of seaweeds as an article of food ever becoming common, even on the sea-coast. To the majority of palates they have all an unpleasant marine flavour, and though this might doubtless be removed or disguised by the art of the cook, in spite of the prize which, a few years ago, was offered for an essay on the best methods of preparing these plants for food, the Soyer of the seaweeds has yet to arise. Very savoury compounds may, with care, be prepared from Irish moss, but the prolonged boiling which it, in common with most edible seaweeds, requires, is a considerable objection to its general use.

But, setting aside their esculent qualities, the red seaweeds are by no means useless plants. They all form a valuable manure, and may be used as food for cattle when other pasture is scarce. One species is converted by the Chinese into a vegetable glue, which is sold in Canton at a price of sixpence per pound. It is this cement which is used in the manufacture of the well-known Chinese lanterns. From Chondrus crispus bandoline is made, and a similar plant is employed by the Chinese ladies to give a glossiness to their hair. Several species have been employed as medicines, and though their virtues seem to have been much overrated, we may at least say of them, that they are free from vice, since the whole class of the seaweeds does not, so far as we know, include a single poisonous plant.

C. C.



Isle of Rathlin is situated off the northern coast of the County of Antrim, in north latitude 55° 15′. Its nearest point to the mainland lies about three miles from the promontory of Fairhead, but from Ballycastle, the usual landing-place, it is seven. Its form has been compared by Sir William Petty to “an Irish stockin, the toe of which pointeth to the main lande; the heel, where Bruce’s Castle is situated, lies opposite Cantire and the top of the Great Western Ocean.” Its length from the Bull Point to Ushet is seven miles; its greatest breadth is a mile and a quarter, and the narrowest part measures half-a-mile. With regard to its name, Dr. Hamilton justly remarks, that it has suffered so many variations in its orthography as to render it now very difficult to determine what may be the most proper. It is called Ricnia, by Pliny; Ricina, by Ptolemy; Riduna, by Antoninus; Raclinda, by Buchanan, the Scotch historian, who classes it among the Ebridæ, or Western Isles of Scotland; Raghline, by Sir James Ware; and Rathlin, by Sir William Petty and others of modern times. It has also been called Recraind, Rachlaind, Rachra, Rachrine, and Ruecrain, and in the “Ancient Topography of Ireland” it is stated that all these