242 curious phenomena in natural history. Oct: 16. 
138 genera something like wings are given, to faci- 
litate their being carried by the winds to distant 
perts. The seeds of 2y more are darted to a great 
distance from elastic seed vefsels. 50 genera 
which require dufg for their cultivation, are furs 
nifhed with little hooks by which they adhere to the 
Coats of animals, and are carried to their place of a- 
bode, where they find the required soil. 193 genera 
are planted by beasts and birds, often pafsing 
through them with little detriment to their vegetats 
ing powers, particularly the berry and stone fruit 
kinds ; even man himself, plants some of the last, in 
2 rich soil, independent of his labours in the field ot 
garden. 
It is in this manner that frefh dung will fill the 
eleaneft ground with plants, which pofsibly had just 
been rooted out with much labour, and it is likewise 
thus, that oats will be sown in a field of rye by 4 
flight of larks, to confirm in appearance the fhort 
lived ridiculous hypothesis of the transmutation of 
grain, which has had its supporters like every cate 
reverie of the human brain. 
Other seeds, like those of a species of century, aré 
covered with erect bristles, and thereby havea sort 
of creeping motion, insomuch that no art can confine 
them in the hand, sleeve, or bosom. 
The seeds of the equisetum or fern, present a 
most curious phenomenon when viewed through a 
microscope on a piece of paper, as they are'seen to 
leap over minute obstacles, so as to he taken for 
cheese mites, by those unacquainted with the curi- 
ous fact. Nothing but the walls of a barn can pre- 
