146 Dr. Penival on the Perceptive, &c. 



VI. Plunging the plant in water feems to 

 have no other effedl, than that of dinainifliing 



Its vigour. 



VII. A piece of wax, ftrongly eledlrified, 

 made the leaves of the fenfitive plant clofc 

 quickly, by attradling them to it with confidcr- 

 able force. 



VIII. The motions of the fenfitive plant are 

 owing to a ftrong contraction. Each foot ftalk 

 feems to be terminated with a kind of joint, on 

 which the leaves turn, with furprizing facility. * 



November g, 1784. 



• Confult Milnes's Botanical Didlonary ; the Encyclo- 

 pedia Britannica ; and Whytt on Vital Motions. 



^^ 



