CUN\^OLVlJLl S. 1 19 



seeing several minute insects busily employed in 

 their ingress and egress to this cavern of sweets. 

 These insects are of the same lilac colour as the 

 anthers of the flowers, and we presume are mere 

 children of the day, whose existence is necessary 

 to the plant, and perishing with the flower that 

 supports them. This species of Bindweed has 

 a perennial root of a white milky substance, 

 which penetrates in a serpentine direction so 

 deeply into the earth, that its tenacity is so firm 

 as to render it next to impossible to destroy it, 

 for every atom of it left in the ground at what- 

 ever depth will reach the surface as a perfect 

 plant. In trenching of lands we have frequently 

 seen it at the depth of three feet, being the pest 

 of the garden and arable lands where it abounds. 

 Miller says it is generally a sign of gravel lying 

 under the surface, and he adds, that from the 

 depth it penetrates into the ground, is is by some 

 country people named DeviFs-guts. It also bears 

 the names of Cornbind, Withbind, Bindweed, 

 Barebind, and Hedge-bells. 



" This plant represents to us," says Lucot, 

 " an obstinate person who persists in his opinion, 

 and prefers being torn in a thousand pieces 

 sooner than to yield benevolently to what is re- 

 quired of him;" hence we pronounce it the em- 

 blem of obstinacy. 



