STUDY XI: 



I 97 



acquired the affurance, that another world exifted. 

 But the regular winds and currents from the Eaft, 

 in the South- Sea, had carried them long before to 

 the Nations of Afia ; of which I (hall fay fome- 

 thing toward the end of this Study. 



There are, befides, vegetables of an amphibious 

 nature. They are difpofed in fuch a manner, that 

 one part of their foliage raifes itfelf toward Heaven, 

 and the other forms an arcade, and bends down- 

 ward to the ground. Nature has given to their 

 feeds, likewife, the power of at once flying and 

 fwimming. Such is the willow, the feed of which 

 is enveloped in a cobweb down, which the winds 

 tranfport to a great diftance, and which floats 

 along the furface of the water, without wetting it- 

 felf, like the downy feathers of the duck. This 

 down is compofed of fmall capfules, like the bot- 

 tom of a lamp, and with two beaks, filled with 

 feeds, which are crowned with a plume : fo that 

 the wind conveys thofe capfules through the air, 

 and likewife tranfports them, by failing, along the 

 face of the water. This configuration was admi- 

 rably adapted, to be the vehicles of the feeds of 

 plants which grow by the fide of ftagnant waters 

 and lakes. The fame thins; holds as to the feeds 

 of the poplar j but thofe of the alder, which grows 

 on the banks of rivers, have no plumage, becaufe 



o 2 the 



