276 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



Vera-Cruz is oh a level with the Sea, and that it 5 ^ 

 port, called St. John de Hutloa, is formed by a fmalt 

 ifland, no higher than the water -, fo that, fays he, 

 when the tide rifes very high, the land wholly dis- 

 appears. 



Such inundations are very common at the bot- 

 tom of the Gulf of Mexico, as we learn from the 

 relation which Dampier has given us of the Bay of 

 Campechy, which is in that vicinity. Hence I pre- 

 fume, that the martinia, which grows on the inun- 

 dated mores of Vera-Cruz, has certain relations, 

 which we know nothing of, to the rimes of the 

 Sea ; in as much as the feeds of feveral trees and 

 plants of thofe countries, defcribed by John de 

 Laetj pofTefs very curious nautical forms. A draw- 

 ing of the martinia, taken from Nature, is pre- 

 fented fronting page 191 of this Volume. 



But there is no occafion to refort to foreign 

 plants, for afcertaining the exiftence of vegetable 

 relations to animal. The bramble, which affords, 

 in every field through which we pafs, a fhelter to 

 fo many birds, has it's prickles formed into hooks; 

 fo that it not only prevents the cattle from difturb- 

 ing the bird's retirement, but frequently lays them 

 under contribution for a flake of wool or hair, pro- 

 per for finifliing off their nefts, as a reprifal for 

 hoftility committed, and an indemnification for 



damages 



