EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. XV 



hook for fifhing gilt-heads, I believe it to be deftined to 

 grow in fituations expofed to inundations of the Sea, as is, 

 in fadl, the cafe with the territory of Vera Cruz, from 

 whence this fpecies originally is. I pre fume, therefore, 

 that when the mores of Vera Cruz are overflowed by high 

 tides, you mull fee fifties caught by this plant, for the ftem 

 of it's pod is not eafily broken off; it's two crotchets are 

 pointed like fiftiing-hooks, are elaftic, and hard as horn. 

 Befides, when it is foaked in water, it's furrows, fhaded 

 with black, fhine as if they were filled with globules of 

 quick-filver. Now, the luftre of this light is a farther bait 

 to attract the fifties. I prefent thefe merely as conjectures ; 

 but I found them on a principle which is indubitably cer- 

 tain, namely, That Nature has made nothing in vain. 



END OF EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 



