O F N A T U R A L H I S T O R Y. ' 305 



Transformations are not peculiar to animals. All organized bodies 

 pafs through fucceffive changes. Plants, of courfe, are not exemp- 

 ted from mutation. What an amazing difference between an acorn 

 and a ftately oak ? The feeds of plants may be compared to the 

 chryfalids of butterflies. The feed, like the chryfalis, contains, in 

 miniature, all the parts of the future plant. Thefe parts require 

 only time, and other circumftances neceffary to vegetation, for their 

 complete evolution. How different are the feed- leaves from thofe 

 of the plume ? Befide the general changes arifmg from growth, 

 plants undergo a number of metamorphofes from other caufes. In 

 northern climates, if we except a few evergreens, trees, during win- 

 ter, are entirely ftripped of their leaves. Inftead of the pleafant 

 emotions excited by the variety of figures, movements, colours, and 

 fragrance of the leaves, flowers, and fruit, during the fpring and 

 fummer, nothing is exhibited in winter but the bare ftems and 

 branches. In this ftate, the trees of the foreft have a lugubrious ap- 

 pearance, and remind us of death and of Skeletons. Very different 

 are the emotions we feel in the fpring, when the buds begin to burfl:, 

 and the leaves to expand. When fummer approaches, another beau- 

 tiful change takes place. The flowers, with all their fplendour of 

 colours, and fweetnefs of flavours, are then highly delightful to our 

 fenfes. After performing the office of cherifhing and proteding the 

 tender fruit for fome time, the flowers drop off, and a new change 

 is exhibited. When the flowers fall, the young fruit appear, and 

 gradually grow to maturity, perpetually prefenting varieties in their 

 magnitude, colour, odour, and flavour. When the fruit or feeds 

 are fully ripe, they are gathered for the ufe of man, drop down up- 

 on the earth, or are devoured by birds and other animals. After 

 this change happens, to which all the others were only preparatory, 

 the leaves begin to flied, winter commences, and the fame feries of 

 metamorphofes go on during the exifl:ence of the plant. 



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