124 LEAVES FROM THE BOOK OF NATURE. 



their seeds far and near, by means of springs bent back, 

 until a breath of wind, a falling leaf, or the wing of an 

 insect, causes them to rebound, and thus to send the pollen 

 with which they are loaded often to a great distance. The 

 so-called Touch-me-not balsam scatters its ripe seeds, by 

 such a contrivance, in all directions, and the squirting cu- 

 cumber is furnished, for the same purpose, with a complete 

 fire-engine. Some of the geraniums, also, of our green- 

 houses have their fruit-vessels so curiously constructed, that 

 the mere contact with another object, and frequently the 

 heat of the sun alone, suffice to detach the carpels, one 

 by one, with a snapping sound, and so suddenly as to 

 cause, a considerable jerk, which sends the seeds far away. 

 Other fruit-vessels again have, as is well known, con- 

 trivances the most curious and ingenious, by which they 

 press every living thing that comes near them into their 

 service, and make it convey them whithersoever they 

 please. Every body is familiar with the bearded varie- 

 ties of wheat and other grain ; they are provided with 

 little hooks, which they cunningly insert into the wool or 

 hair of grazing cattle, and thus they are carried about 

 until they find a pleasant place for their future home. 

 Some who do not like to obtain services thus by hook 

 and crook, succeed by pretended friendship, sticking closely 

 to their self-chosen companions. They cover their little 

 seeds with a most adhesive glue, and when the busy bee 

 comes to gather honey from their sweet blossoms, which 

 they jauntily hang out to catch the unwary insect, the seeds 

 adhere to its body, and travel thus on four fine wings 

 through the wide, wide world. Bee fanciers know very 



