Page:The aquarium - an unveiling of the wonders of the deep sea.djvu/252

Rh The broad, shallow, half-tide pools afford Anthea cereus of the grey variety, Actinia mesembryanthemum, and A. crassicornis; and in the latter part of summer Padina pavonia grows in them. Those parts of the ledges that are uncovered only at the lowest tides, yield the green-tentacled and crimson-tipped variety of Anthea, very brilliant and silky, and in great profusion; and among the sea-weeds, two or three kinds of Cladophora, Corallina, and Jania, thick tufts of Rhytiphlea pinastroides, and some Polysiphoniœ and Callithamnia.

After we have passed along for some distance, the cliffs begin to grow more lofty, and more solid and rocky in their character; the pools disappear, and the ledges become more rough, and more indented with deep narrow fissures, until they terminate in an abrupt wall or quay, which protects a tiny mimic bay. This little indentation is a most prolific source of washed sea-weeds in the summer and autumn, and many specimens of rarity and beauty are gathered here. The rich and brilliant Rhodymenia laciniata is not uncommon, and the more delicate and scarcely less beautiful Nitophyllum punctatum (See Plate V.), with Delesseria sanguinea and [sic] sinuosa, and many other species equally attractive, occur. Some of these are it is true deep-water kinds, washed in by the tides; the first named, for example, I have never met with in a growing state; but this little bay is particularly rich in littoral species. At the bottom of the wall or quay-like edge, grow several fine tufts of those very elegant Algæ, Griffithsia corallina, and G. setacea; Ceramium echionotum (See Plate VI.) and C.