AUTUMN IN THE WOODS 



337 



at the end into a long, narrow wing with a shght twist. As a result 

 of this pecuUarity they usually fall less rapidly to the ground, spin- 

 ning as they descend, and are thus carried farther than they other- 

 wise would be by the wind. The fruits of the Sycamore and the 

 Maple are somewhat similarly winged, and each of these consist of 



The Maple in Pruit. 



two carpels which separate sooner or later — generally after they 

 have reached the ground. 



On the Birch trees we may now see the ripe female catkins, 

 consisting of hundreds of minute fruits, closely packed together, each 

 provided with a wing on either side. They are very light, and easily 

 blown a considerable distance by the wind ; and late in the autumn 

 we may observe the stalks of the catkins, from which some of the 

 fruits have been blown, still on the trees. 



The wings that thus aid in the dispersion of fruits are not 



