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
Schem. 9.
Fig. 2.
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
Schem. 14.
Fig. 1.
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.