THE ROMANCE OF SEED-SOWING. 137 



One curious set of cases deserves a passing word while speak- 

 ing of hairs. Several seeds, and also some fruits ((?.§., some Sages 

 and Groundsels), are coated with short hairs containing spiral 

 threads coiled up inside them. The hairs are usually pressed 

 close to the seed or fruit, and kept down securely by a fibre of 

 mucilage. The wind carries these seeds to some favourable soil, 

 the dampness loosens the mucilage, the hairs spread out, are rup- 

 tured, and discharge the contained threads. These are highly 

 elastic, and on protrusion fix the seed in the soil quite securely. 

 Here, then, hairs serve to arrest the seeds or fruits, after disper- 

 sion. The mucilage present on the seeds of Flax and Cress 

 probably does similar duty when moistened by the damp soil. 



III. — Animals. — Just as animals play a large and important 

 part in the fertilization of flowers, so we find them taking their 

 share in the dispersion of seeds and fruits. I cannot here give a 

 tithe of the instances in which this is seen. A few must suffice. 

 They perform their mission in different ways — some voluntarily, 

 some unconsciously. While Insects chiefly assist in fertilization. 

 Birds and Mammals are the principal agents in the work of 

 dispersion. 



Fleshy fruits are attractive to animals, because they serve as 

 food. In these cases, therefore, the dispersion comes about by 

 voluntary action. Three characters come into prominence when 

 we consider this class of fruits— colour, fleshiness or juiciness, 

 and hardness. 



Colour has long been recognised as operating largely in 

 the direction of dispersion of fruits and seeds. The aesthetic 

 side of a Bird's nature is by no means undeveloped, as we may 

 see in many ways, and we know that Birds are strongly attracted 

 by the beautiful and varied hues of a large number of our wild 

 berries and fruits. As we should expect, these colours are not 

 developed until the fruit is ripe, or nearly so. It would, of 

 course, operate injuriously, were it present at an immature 

 stage, and Nature always takes care that during the time when a 

 flower or a fruit needs protection, it shall be so clothed or enclosed 

 as to be inconspicuous and non-attractive. When, on the other 

 hand, fertilization is desired, colour and odour are laid under con- 

 tribution in order to induce Insects to visit ^^ flower ; when dis- 



