INTRODUCTION. xxix 



fome of them twined one round another, and then untwined again, 

 while others were bending, extending, coiling, waving, &c. The 

 fibres had many little balls adhering to cheir fides, which I take to be 

 the feeds : I obferved many of thefe were difengaged at every motion 

 of the fibres. I diftinguifhed many of the fibres, and they appeared 

 under the lens as thick as a horfe hair, and were all exactly of the 

 fame length, which was to my apprehenfion about two inches ; they 

 were fmalleft at each end, which, together with their vermicular 

 motion, gave them the ftrongeft refemblance of little live worms. 

 I examined many of therm at various times, and always found the 

 motion precifely the fame; but ftrongeft when recent, and on the firfl 

 burfting. The feeds appeared like gunpowder finely granulated." 



The fame Phenomenon obtains in all the Ferns j but moft beauti- 

 fully and manifeftly in the firft genus, the Equifeti. There are many 

 other plants which eject: their • feeds, as the Cardamine impatience, 

 Impatience noli-met anger e, &c. &c. but in thefe the operation is per- 

 formed by a differently conftrucled fpring. 



I have throughout this work been as cautious as poflible in giving 

 references to Authors ; from a conviction, that falfe references caufe the 

 greatelt confufion ; they tend only to dijlracl, not to inform: And 

 whoever undertakes, to trace them, in regard to the plants of this 

 order, as they are given by the Florifkce, will feel the truth of what I 

 here alTert. 



In many inftances, where I found the plant under review agreeing, in 

 feveral particulars, with the figure or defcription of fome approved 

 Author, and yet differing in any one effential mark or character, I have 

 not chofe to apply the name or jyno?iym of that author, but rather 

 to give a name of my own, though but a temporary one; which the 

 future obfervations of me, or of my friends, may finally eftablifh or 

 reject. For the above reafon 1 forbear, at prefent, the publication of an 

 Index Synonymorum to the whole work ; which, though but in an imper- 

 fect 



