THE BELL-SHAPED NIDULARIA. 95 



capsules, are visible at the bottom of the bell-shaped 

 receptacle, of the size of a turnip seed, or of a large, 

 flattened pin's head ; loose, but attached by a filament, 

 which in the striated species (nidularia striata), in moist 

 weather, I have drawn out to nearly three inches in 

 length. This thread appears designed to secure the 

 vegetation of the seed, by affording it the power of de- 

 riving nutriment from the parent plant, during the period 

 it is exerting its strength to vegetate in the earth. 

 Heavy rains, I apprehend, fill the bells, and float out 

 the seeds in the spring months, the filaments then 

 stretching to their full extent. In severe weather we 

 often find these bells emptied of their contents; arid 

 from observing the excrement of mice about the places 

 of their growth, I conclude they are eaten by these 

 creatures. The long mandibles of the little shrew are 

 well fitted for this operation. I have never found the 

 plant in such quantities as to yield them any consider- 

 able supply ; yet it is remarkable, that the seeds of one 

 genus only, out of such a numerous class, should be so 

 visible, and of such a size, as to become an article of 

 food to an animal like a mouse. 



But we must dismiss the vegetable tribes, and enter 

 upon the world of sensitive nature. The quadrupeds 

 naturally present themselves first to our notice, but with 

 us they are few in number; our population scares them, 

 our gamekeepers kill them, and inclosures extirpate 

 their haunts. Yet the marten (mustela martes) lingers 

 with us still, and every winter's snow becomes instru- 

 mental to its capture, betraying its footsteps to those 

 who are acquainted with the peculiar trace which it 

 leaves. Its excursions generally terminate at some hol- 

 low tree, whence it is driven into a bag ; and we are 

 surprised, that a predaceous animal, not protected by 

 laws or arbitrary privileges, and of some value too, 

 should still exist. Of all our animals called vermin, 

 we have none more admirably fitted for a predatory life 

 than the marten : it is endowed with strength of body ; 

 is remarkably quick and active in all its motions ; has 

 an eye so large, clear, perceptive, and movable in its 

 orbit, that nothing can stir without its observation ; and 



