CURVED BUTTS OF THE PALMS. 199 



the sand ; and is ready to take the place of its parent 

 when the old tree dies down. 



About thirty to lifty feet is the average height of these 

 Coco palms, which have all, without exception, a peculiarity 

 which I have noticed to a less degree in another sand- and 

 shore-growing tree, the Pinaster of the French Landes. They 

 never spring npright from the ground. The butt curves, 

 indeed lies almost horizontal in some cases, for the lowest 

 two or three yards ; and the whole stem, up to the top, 

 is inclined to lean ; it matters not toward which quarter, 

 for they lean as often toward the wind as from it, crossing 

 each other very gracefully. I am not mechanician enough 

 to say how this curve of the stem increases their security 

 amid loose sands and furious winds. But that it does so 

 I can hardly doubt, when I see a similar habit in the 

 Pinaster. Another peculiarity was noteworthy : their innu- 

 merable roots, long, fleshy, about the thickness of a large 

 string, piercing the sand in every direction, and running 

 down to high-tide mark, apparently enjoying the salt water, 

 and often piercing through bivalve shells, which remained 

 strung upon the roots. Have they a fondness for carbonate 

 of lime, as well as for salt ? 



The most remarkable, and to me unexpected, pecu- 

 liarity of a Cocal, is one which I am not aware whether 

 any writer has mentioned; namely, the prevalence of that 



