308 



NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FARM 



Fig. 133. "Pitchforks" or "Spanish Needles" in flower: 

 see fig, 39 on page 69 for fruit. 



water, times in- 

 numerable, thru 

 past centuries: 

 and we know that 

 nature maintains 

 in the brook only 

 such plants and 

 animals as are 

 capable, in one 

 way or another, 

 of meeting the exigencies of such times as this. 



If the aquatic plants have disappeared, and the aquatic 

 animals also, save for a few that may be discovered hiding 

 under trash in the moister places, there will be found plenty 

 of semi-aquatic brookside things still remaining. There 

 will be weeds of many sorts, overhanging and brushing 

 against us as we pass up the channel; willow-herbs and 

 pitch-forks (fig. 133) in the sun, and rich weed (fig. 134) in 

 the shady places. Then there will be coarse and straggling 



Fig. 134. Richweed (Pilea pumila). 



