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| Observ. XXIII. Of the curious texture of Sea-weeds.<br> |
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| <p align="center"><img src="images/Octavo/seaweed.jpg" width="316" height="498"></p> |
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| <p><font size="4">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 Honeycomb; |
| 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 A B C D 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. </font></p> |
| <p><font size="4">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.</font></p> |
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