12 



ETON NATURE-STUDY 



FIGURE 11. The fruits of 



The observations which can be made, though they may begin 



with the discovery of contrivances to ensure seed dispersal, need not 



end with an assumption or even an enquiry from books as to their 

 meaning. Actual instances of their uses should 

 be watched for and described in a nature note- 

 book which may be set apart for the purpose. 

 The most common and well known cases (see 

 figures 11, 12) will serve as subjects for study, 

 but there is no reason why others should not 

 be sought for and found. It may be possible 

 to add important details about many fruits to 

 those which naturalists already know about 

 them. 



For instance, the hooked heads of the 



Robin-nm-in-the-hedge. burdock (see figure 12) are a good instance 



of structures which are intended to stick to the bodies of 



animals and so be conveyed to distant 



places. It might be imagined that the 



removal of the fruits from their carrier 



is left to chance, or that the whole head 



might in time drop off and the dispersal 



of its contents be carried no further. 



Before long, however, the fine bristle with 



which the top of each tiny fruit is beset, 



work their way through the hair of the 



animal, or the stocking of the human 



being to which they have clung, and tickle 



him. Scratching or rubbing will break up 



the bur still further, and one or more of the fruits (each of which 



it can be discovered contain a single seed) drop to the ground 



on each occasion. 



FIGURE 12. The head of Burdoc 



