244 Field, Forest, and Wayside Flowers 



toward the north. "The tendrils of the Virginia 

 creeper exhibit," says Darwin, " no marked or 

 regular revolving movement, though they show a 

 decided tendency to turn from the light toward 

 the dark." But the vital force which they save 

 by thus living in comparative quiet and ease seems 

 expended in movements, few and slight, yet 

 strangely like those of a reasoning creature. These 

 tendrils have generally several branches, each in- 

 stinct with vitality. When they meet with a flat 

 surface they all turn toward it, spread themselves 

 as far apart as possible, and bring their hooked 

 tips into close contact with it. "In effecting 

 this," says Darwin, "the several branches after 

 touching the surface often rise up, place themselves 

 in a new position, and again come down into con- 

 tact with it. In the course of about two days 

 after a tendril has arranged its branches so as to 

 press upon any surface, its curved tips swell, be- 

 come bright-red, and form on their under sides little 

 disks, or cushions, with which they adhere firmly." 

 As these disks soon fasten themselves to smooth 

 surfaces, naturalists believe that the vine secretes a 

 little resinous vegetable cement, by means of which 

 the tendril tip sticks fast to the spot which it has 

 selected. After it has made sure of its hold, the 



