1$% STUDIES OF NATURE. 



which floats in the air, in imperceptible vapoui'3. 

 The parietaria (pellkory) which has derived it's. 

 name from the Latin word ptftikti\ (wall) becauie it 

 grows on the fides of walls, has it's leaves almoft 

 always in a humid (late. This attraction is com- 

 mon to mo ft trees of the mountains. Travellers 

 unanimously allure us, that there is, in the moun- 

 tains of the Wand of Ferro, a tree, which furnifhes 

 every day, to that iiland, a prodigious quantity of 

 water. The iflanders call it garde, and the Spa- 

 niards fanto, from it's lingular utility. They tell 

 us it is always furrounded with a cloud, which 

 diftils copioufly along it's leaves, and fills with 

 water the large refervoirs which are conitructed at 

 the root of this tree, affording an abundant fupply 

 for the iiland. 



This effect is, perhaps, fomewhat exaggerated, 

 though related, in nearly the fame terms, by per- 

 fons of different Nations : but I give full credit to 

 the general fact. The real cafe I take to be this, 

 it is the mountain which attracts from afar the va- 

 pours of the Atmofphere, and that the tree, iitu- 

 ated in the focus of attraction, collects them 

 around it. 



Having frequently fpoken, in the courfe of this 

 Work, of the attraction of the fummits of many 

 mountains, the Reader, perhaps, will not be dif- 



pleafed^ 



