''DEFENCE, NOT DEFIANCE,'' 133 



when it has fallen to the ground, cork-screw It into 

 the soil, on account of their sensitiveness to moisture, 

 the seed with its scales slowly rotating on its axis, 

 until it is thus placed out of sight and in a situation 

 where it can sprout. 



The true Rushes {Jiuiais) are leafless, but their 

 green stems are uneaten because of their siliceous 

 character. The same is true of the Carices, whose 

 similar mineral protection is intensified by the 

 triangula}' shapes of their stems, etc. The handsome 

 blades of such species of water-reeds, as Anmdo 

 phrag}Jtites, are seldom attacked except by mining 

 caterpillars, which have learned to penetrate between 

 the siliceous cuticles. 



The creeping habit adopted by many species of 

 grasses and other herbaceous plants is a trick of 

 self-defence. Under the Arctic snows a species of 

 Pine always grows recumbently, so that the winter 

 snows cover it up and protect it from Polar frosts. 

 The nearly recumbent position assumed by the well- 

 known Alpine Pine {Finns piiniilio)^ so abundant 

 just beneath the snow-line in Switzerland, is only 

 to be explained by reference to its advantageous 

 condition in winter. Such a position must also be 

 beneficial to it in summer, when it cannot be up- 

 rooted by violent winds. 



One device adopted by fruits and seeds for pro- 

 tection against their numerous animal foes almost 

 comes under the head of " Mimicry." Attention 



