THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 37 
The tendency toimitation in tree foliage, and in plants also, is very 
marked, and is perhaps too extensive a subject to be comprehended 
in the present communication, but one or two instances may not be 
thought irrelevant : For instance in the Mahonia, Berberis aquifolium, 
there is a likeness to the crisped and spinous leaves of the European 
holly, also a resemblance in the glow of color in the berries—at first 
orange-colored and afterwards blue. 
In the form of stem and leaves of Euphorbia polygontfolia or of 
£. maculata (Knot Grass Spurge), the imitation to 7lecebree is so 
close as sometimes to deceive a superficial observer. The very 
curious reticulations on the leaves of the Rattlesnake-Plantain, might 
suggest patterns for an artist in wicker, or basket weaving ; and the 
bronze helmet and vizor of the armoured knight of the medizeval 
periods, may have been copied from the seed capsule of several 
species of scu¢ellaria of swamp margins. © In this last mentioned in- 
stance the zmstator and imitated may be thought to have illogically 
changed positions. 
In some of the twining stems of shrubs, there is an exact 
fac simile to the scaly covering of the snake, as well as to the 
ophidian constrictions and contortions. A particular instance of this 
feature may be sometimes seen in the Moonseed shrub, JZenzspermum 
canadense. ‘There is, also, something that may perhaps be termed 
“fantastical ” in instances of ‘‘ albinism” in the motley designs some- 
times etched in white on the leaves of the common turnip, on 
pumpkin leaves, and quite frequently, on ribbon grass, as if the 
beginning of a whimsical design which had not been fully carried 
out, but abandoned for more practical and perfect ends. If it might 
not be thought a rambling from our orbit, one might finish by 
alluding to analogous traits in animal life, as in the curious etching 
on the upper side of the webbed feet of the Crested Grebe, as if put 
there to indicate the proper manner of folding the membraneous ex- 
pansion between the toes when not in use, as a closed umbrella ; 
also the rake-like appendages (for more efficient scratching among 
leaves) on the szdes of the Zoes of the Grouse. 
As we have introduced bird life, let us mention having seen 
crows with several whzfe wing-feathers, and with a part of the toe-nail 
white /—and the color of the remainder of the bird, black as ebony ! 
—suggesting that something, if only a modicum of pigment had 
been suppressed, as if “on second thought.” 
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