378 Journal of Jravd and NaUiral History 



rising higher than the grass among which it grows, or more than six inches 

 from the ground, but covering large spots, which are distinguished from the 

 rough herbage by its neat regixlar foliage. It seems to be almost constantly in 

 flower, for in October, November, and May, I noticed numbers of the little 

 round tufts characteristic of this acacia (mimosa), and of a pale flesh colour. 

 The manner in which the aspect of such a little bush is altered by a touch is 

 very remarkable. Brush your foot over the luxuriant little plant as you pass 

 by, and the whole bush seems to disappear, and you look back for it almost in 

 vain ; the leaves have all closed up, and the stems become depressed, and 

 nothing is left but a few withered sticks on the grass. Try to pluck a sprig 

 and it fades between your fingers ; so that it is very difficult to gather and 

 examine it in an expanded condition. But if you will carefully take between 

 the finger and thumb the pulvinus or swelled base of the leaf stalk where the 

 little thorns are situated, without touching any other part, and pinch it hard 

 before attempting to break off the sprig, the pinnae will remain expanded 

 relax your hold, however, and they will immediately begin to close up." — 

 (P. 257.) 



The natural physical phenomena of the world were not over- 

 looked by Dr Collingwood, and we cannot better indicate his 

 attention to them than by closing our views with an engraving of 

 a waterspout (see p. 377), copied from a sketch carefully taken by 

 himself, and which tells its own tale better than any words 

 could do. 



