A FROZEN WORLD 219 



though enticing, is another story, alien to the 

 philosophy of the pond in winter. I will only add 

 here that the pond-weed does not set its seeds very 

 well, and that chances of dispersal are somewhat 

 infrequent, so that irregular multiplication by these 

 winter shoots has largely taken the place with it of 

 normal multiplication by means of seedlings. At 

 the same time, we must remember that no prudent 

 plant can venture to depend for ever upon such 

 apparent propagation by mere subdivision, which is 

 not really (in any true sense) propagation at all, but 

 is merely increased area of growth for the original 

 parent, split up into many divergent personalities ; 

 so that the curled pond-weed takes infinite pains all 

 the same to flower when it can, and to discharge 

 its pollen and disperse its seed as often as prac- 

 ticable. Only by seedlings, indeed (that is to say 

 by fresh blood truly new individuals), can the 

 vigour of any stock be permanently secured. 



Sometimes, again, the entire plant retires to the 

 depths in winter, like the pond-snail. This is the 

 case with that pretty floating aquatic lily, the water- 

 soldier, whose lovely flowers make it a frequent 

 favourite on ornamental waters. In summer it 

 floats ; but when winter comes it sinks to the 

 bottom, and there rests on the mud till spring 

 returns again. 



In No. 7 you see how another familiar and 

 fascinating denizen of the pond, the little whirligig^ 

 beetle, provides his winter quarters. The whirligig 

 is one of the daintiest and most amusing of the 

 inhabitants of our ponds. He is a small round 



