116 ANTS AND CHILDREN OF THE GARDEN 



thistle is quite hard for you to carry or drag. Each has 

 about a hundred fine hairs standing out at one end, and 

 each hair has a hundred barbs on it to catch on everything 

 you pass. 



FLORENCE. Often you take one of these seeds in your 

 jaws and carry it as I do a parasol, over your head or 

 in front. 



CECIL. The seed of the filaree has a long tail that is 



STAR THISTLE SEED- -Umbrella" 



CARRYING BOMB THE SEED OP THE FILARBR 



twisted like an augur, and this tail ends in a scythe hook 

 to catch on weeds and sticks. 



ANT. In rain or- dew this augur untwists and after- 

 wards the hot sun twists it up again. The seed is trying 

 to plant itself, but sometimes makes a mistake and traps 

 an ant in its coil. The filaree is one of the best seeds, but 

 hardest to drag. 



CECIL. In two evenings' time I saw you carry out the 

 chaff of 1,200 grains of oats. 



