75 



selves with it, and being united thereto, form one orga-* 

 nical body. 



10. The timorous sensitive p'ant flies the hand that 

 approaches her; she closes hi j rselt again with the ut- 

 most speed ; and tn;s motion, bearing so great a resem- 

 blance to that of animals, seems to constitute one of 

 those connections whereby the vegetable and animal 

 kingdoms are united. 



A little above the sensative, in a kind of calix, at the 

 bottom of the water, is a small body, exactly resembling 

 a flower. It draws back and entirely disappears when 

 I offer to touch it. It comes out of the calix, and 

 opens itself on my retiring to a distance from it. 



While I was endeavouring in vain to account for this, 

 I discovered, by the side of it, another body of the 

 same form, but larger, and not lodged in an inclo- 

 sure. It was supported by a small stalk, whose lower 

 extremity joined to a plant, whilst the other, in- 

 clining towards the ground, was divided into several 

 little branches. 



I immediately believed it to be a parasite plant; 

 and, in order to be more fully convinced of it, I cut it 

 in half between its two extremities?. 



It soon sprouted out again, and appeared the same as 

 before. I stood awhile to consider it. I saw the little 

 branches move, and extend themselves to several inches 

 in length. They are extremely, fin, an$ spread them- 

 selves on all sides. 



A little worm came and touched one of these 

 branches ; it presently twisted itself about the worm, 

 and by contracting itself, brought it to the upper 

 extremity of the stalk: there I perceived a small 

 aperture, which enlarged itself in order to receive the 

 worm. It was received into a long cavity that encloses 

 the stalk, being there dissolved and digested before my 

 eyes : I afterwards saw the remainder go out again at 

 the same opening. 



The next moment this singular production separated 



