RELATIVES OF THE HERB ROBERT 151 
coil instead of the close spiral shown in the illustration, 
Fig. 29. 
The Storksbill does not seem to be so successful 
in throwing its seeds as the Cranesbills are; this is 
probably due to the extraordinarily hygroscopic 
spring. We noticed when dealing with the Meadow 
Cranesbill that a week of rain delayed matters for 
eight days, but rainy weather seems to be a greater 
difficulty for the Storksbill. I have often seen the 
loosened springs in damp showery weather clinging 
in a tangle around the central rod, whereas when it is 
fine and dry, they are shot off without any difficulty. 
Again, the Meadow Cranesbill throws the seed alone, 
and often to a considerable distance, but the Storks- 
bill’s long spring is much more likely to be stopped 
in its flight by the surrounding herbage. It can 
be found in fruit from June until the autumn, 
and it is the late fruits whose seeds fare the 
worst as regards the throw, though in the end I 
dare say they are dispersed quite as far as or 
farther than the others, thanks to the gales blowing 
them about with the vegetable débris to which they 
cling. 
I have already drawn attention in Chapter VI. to 
the way in which the seeds are sown and anchored, 
and I may mention that the same holds good for the 
Dusky Cranesbill, although the mechanism does not 
appear to be so perfect. I have not experimented 
with the seeds of this woodland species, nor have I 
indulged in much observation of its doings, but I have 
frequently seen the seeds of the Storksbill firmly 
anchored in the ground, sometimes only a few inches 
from the parent; there is no great difficulty about 
finding them if one looks for the long spring, which 
