Page:The fairy tales of science.djvu/145

Rh Looking around, we perceive a host of wonders. We are in a new world, whose plants and animals have no resemblance to those of the world we have just quitted. Dense forests of many-coloured algæ are outspread before us; uncouth creatures crawl at our feet, and fairy-like forms flit around us.

If we wish to obtain a correct impression of these submarine wonders, we must examine them separately in regular order. We will therefore confine our attention at present to the beautiful herbs that grow in the mermaid's garden, and the miniature trees of her parks and forests.

This lovely group of algæ, misnamed weeds, will afford us ample types of marine vegetation. One of these plants has broad leaves of a beautiful emerald-green, as thin as the finest cambric, and strangely puckered and folded at their edges. The mermaid doubtless makes use of these delicate leaves in place of silk or muslin, unless indeed she eats them as a salad. Beside this flimsy plant we see a cluster of crimson leaves, some five or six inches long, and of a most graceful form. The mermaid must take some pains to cultivate this herb, as its gorgeous colouring renders it a striking feature in her garden. Here is a tuft of what seems to be fine grass; here a group of rosy leaves; and here a tiny tree of a beautiful purple hue.

In this little parterre we may find all the colours of the rainbow, and a wonderful variety of forms;