“And what is this pale brown?” asked Agnes. “That is called Duck’s Foot Conferva,” said Mrs. Merton, “and when burnt it smells like lemons; but it is not a true Conferva.” [Illustration: _Fig. 21._ DUCK’S FOOT CONFERVA (_Flustra foliacea_). ] “Do look at this beautiful pink sea-weed, mamma,” said Agnes. “That is called Delesseria by botanists,” said Mrs. Merton, “but I do not know its English name. It is very beautiful from its delicate texture, and its brilliant colour. Its seeds are produced on the back of the leaves, or fronds, as in ferns.” “I should like to take some of it,” said Agnes,—“may I?” “Certainly,” said Mrs. Merton, “but take great care in drying it, as it is very apt to adhere to the paper. I think you know how to dry sea-weed.” “Oh! yes,” said Agnes, “Miss Green taught me. You first put the sea-weed in water, and then put a piece of writing paper under it, so as to let the plant lie upon the paper as it did in the water; and then you take it up carefully, so as to let the water run off without disturbing the plant.” “You are quite right,” said Mrs. Merton; “but you must observe that some sea-weeds are spoiled by putting them into fresh water, and will change their colour, while others will crackle, when taken out, like salt when thrown on a fire. Some kinds, when laid on a plate in fresh water, will start and curl up as if they were alive; and nearly all sea animals, such as the Star-fish we saw just now, are killed instantly by putting them into fresh water. However, to return to the sea-weed, I am so well pleased at your remembering what was told you, that I will give you some more paper to dry your sea-weed on, if you should not have enough; and you may gather as much as you like.” Agnes did not suffer this permission to lie dormant; and she gathered sea-weed of a great variety of shades of pink, brown, green, black, and even white; as, however, she could not carry half the quantity she had collected, her mother promised to bring her back to the beach the following morning, if the weather should be fine, when she might provide herself with a basket. They now found the tide coming in so rapidly that they judged it most prudent to return; though Agnes, who was fond of excitement, would willingly have gone on a little farther, in spite of the danger; which, indeed, was not very great, as the tide seldom rises very high on the back of the Isle of Wight, and there was a considerable space between the cliffs and the shore. The billows, however, came in with considerable force, and they brought with them a piece of board that looked as if it had belonged to a ship. Agnes picked it up, and found some Mussels sticking to it; one of which was attached by what looked like a tuft of coarse brown thread; but, when she asked what it was, her mother smiled, and told her it was the Byssus.