For curiosity and beauty, I have not among all the Plants or Vegetables I
have yet observ’d, seen any one comparable to this Sea-weed I have here
describ’d, of which I am able to say very little more then what is
represented by the second _Figure_ of the ninth _Scheme_: Namely, that it
is a Plant which grows upon the Rocks under the water, and increases and
spreads it self into a great tuft, which is not onely handsomely branch’d
into several leaves, but the whole surface of the Plant is cover’d over
with a most curious kind of carv’d work, which consists of a texture much
resembling a Honey-comb; for the whole surface on both sides is cover’d
over with a multitude of very small holes, being no bigger then so many
holes made with the point of a small Pinn, and rang’d in the neatest and
most delicate order imaginable, they being plac’d in the manner of a
_Quincunx_, or very much like the rows of the eyes of a Fly, the rows or
orders being very regular, which way soever they are observ’d: what the
texture was, as it appear’d through a pretty bigg Magnifying _Microscope_,
I have here adjoin’d in the first _Figure_ of the 14. _Scheme._ which round
Area ABCD represents a part of the surface about one eighth part of an Inch
in Diameter: Those little holes, which to the eye look’d round, like so
many little spots, here appear’d very regularly shap’d holes, representing
almost the shape of the sole of a round toed shoe, the hinder part of
which, is, as it were, trod on or cover’d by the toe of that next below it;
these holes seem’d wall’d about with a very thin and transparent substance,
looking of a pale straw-colour; from the edge of which, against the middle
of each hole, were sprouted out four small transparent straw-colour’d
Thorns, which seem’d to protect and cover those cavities, from either side
two; neer the root of this Plant, were sprouted out several small branches
of a kind of bastard _Coralline_, curiously branch’d, though small.
And to confirm this, having lately the opportunity of viewing the large
Plant (if I may so call it) of a Sponge _petrify’d_, of which I made
mention in the last Observation, I found, that each of the Branches or
Figures of it, did, by the range of its pores, exhibit just such a texture,
the rows of pores crossing one another, much after the manner as the rows
of eyes do which are describ’d in the 26. _Scheme_: _Coralline_ also, and
several sorts of white _Coral_, I have with a _Microscope_ observ’d very
curiously shap’d. And I doubt not, but that he that shall observe these
several kinds of Plants that grow upon Rocks, which the Sea sometimes
overflows, and those heaps of others which are vomited out of it upon the
shore, may find multitudes of little Plants, and other bodies, which like
this will afford very beautifull objects for the _Microscope_; and this
_Specimen_ here is adjoin’d onely to excite their curiosities who have
opportunity of observing to examine and collect what they find worthy their
notice; for the Sea, among terrestrial bodies, is also a _prolifick_
mother, and affords as many Instances of _spontaneous_ generations as
either the Air or Earth.
* * * * *