SECT. II. . SEEDS. 403 



the branches of the Cocoloba grandiflora, and other 

 lofty trees ;* as also the seeds of Phytolacca de- 

 candria, the berries of which are eaten by the 

 robin, thrush, and wild pigeon. And so also the 

 seeds of Currants or Roans are sometimes deposited 

 after having been swallowed by blackbirds or other 

 birds, as may be seen by observing a Currant- 

 bush or young Roan-tree growing out of the cleft of 

 another tree, where the seed has been left, and where 

 there may happen to have been a little dust collected 

 by way of soil ; or where a natural graft may have 

 been effected by the insinuation of the radicle into 

 some chink or cleft. It seems indeed surprising 

 that any seeds should be able to resist the heat and 

 digestive action of the stomach of animals ; but it is 

 undoubtedly the fact. Some seeds seem even to re- 

 quire it. The seeds of Magnolia glauca which have 

 been brought to this country are said to have generally 

 refused to vegetate till after undergoing this process, 

 and it is known that some seeds will bear a still 

 greater degree of heat without any injury. Spallan- 

 zani mentions some seeds that germinated after 

 having been boiled in water : and Du Hamel gives 

 an account of some others that germinated even 

 after having been exposed to a degree of heat 

 measuring 235 of Fahrenheit. 



In addition to the instrumentality of brute ani- 

 mals in the dispersion of the seed I might add also 

 that of man, who for purposes of utility or oforna- 

 * Barton's Elera. of Bot. p. 232. f Ibid, p. 234 

 2 D 2 



