i88 FOTHERGILL'S BOTANIC GARDEN CHAP. 



What faculty is it, that directs the cirri of the Cucurbita 

 and other climbers, towards the twigs of shrubs, trees and 

 other friendly supports ? We see them invariably leaning, 

 extending, and like the fingers of the human hand, reaching 

 to catch hold of what is nearest, just as if they had eyes to 

 see with ; and when their hold is fixed, they coil the tendril 

 in a spiral form, by which artifice it becomes more elastic, and 

 they are enabled to dilate and contract, humouring the motion 

 of the limbs and twigs. Is it sense or instinct that influences 

 their actions ? 



Birds are in general social creatures ; intelligent, ingenious, 

 volatile ; and they consist of various nations, as may be 

 observed from their different structure, manners, and language 

 or voice ; each nation, though subdivided into many different 

 tribes, retaining its general form or structure, a similarity of 

 customs, and a sort of dialect or language, particular to that 

 nation from which these tribes seem to have descended. 

 What I mean by a language in birds is the common notes or 

 speech that they use when employed in feeding themselves or 

 their young, and in calling on one another, as well as their 

 menaces against an enemy ; for their songs seem to be musical 

 compositions, performed only by the males about the time of 

 incubation, in part to divert and amuse the female, entertain- 

 ing her with melody. 



An adventure at the Isle of Palms will illustrate his 

 mode of travel. 



This delightful spot, planted by nature, presents a grove of 

 Palms, with a few pyramidal Magnolias, Live Oaks, golden 

 Orange, and the animating Zanthoxylon. What a beautiful 

 retreat is here ! A blessed unviolated spot of earth, rising 

 from the limpid waters of the lake : its fragrant groves and 

 blooming lawns invested by encircling ranks of the Yucca 

 gloriosa : the balmy Lantana, ambrosial Citra, perspiring their 

 mingled odours. I broke away at last from the enchanting 

 spot, and stepped on board my boat, hoisted sail, and soon 

 approached the coast of the main at the cool eve of day : then 

 traversing a semicircular cove of the lake, verged by low 

 grassy meadows, at length by dusk I made a safe harbour in 

 a little lagoon on the shore. Here was a clean sandy beach, 

 made hard and firm by the beating surf, when the wind sets 

 from the east. I drew up my light vessel on the sloping shore, 

 that she might be safe in case of a sudden storm of wind in the 

 night. A few yards back the land was a little elevated and 



