222 Fruits and Seeds. 



slightly diverging at the end, while between them 

 the end of the abdomen seems to peep ; at the 

 anterior end the seeds possess a small lobe, which 

 mimics the head or thorax of the insect, and which 

 even seems specially arranged for this purpose ; at 

 least it would seem from experiments made at Kew 

 that the removal of this little lobe does not injure 

 the seed. 



5. These resemblances might benefit the plant in 

 one of two ways. If it be an advantage to the 

 plant that the seeds should be swallowed by birds, 



Fig. 90. Seed of JATROPHA. 



their resemblance to insects might lead to this 

 result. On the other hand, if it be desirable to 

 escape from grain-eating birds, then the resem- 

 blance to insects would serve as a protection. We 

 do not, however, yet know enough about the habits 

 of these plants to solve this question. 



6. Indeed, as we have gone on, many other ques- 

 tions will, I doubt not, have occurred to you, which 

 we are not yet in a position to answer. Seeds, for 

 instance, differ almost infinitely in the sculpturing 



