CHAPTER Xll 



THE spiders' exodus 



CEEDS, when ripened in the fruit, are dis- 

 •^ seminated, that is to say, scattered on 

 the surface of the ground, to sprout in spots 

 as yet unoccupied, and fill the expanses that 

 realize favourable conditions. 



Amid the wa}"side rubbish grows one of the 

 gourd family. Ecbalium elateritim, commonly 

 called the squirting cucumber, whose fruit — a 

 rough and extremely bitter little cucumber — 

 is the size of a date. When ripe, the flediy 

 core resolves into a liquid in which float the 

 seeds. Compressed by the elastic rind of the 

 fruit, this liquid bears upon the base of the 

 footstalk, whidi is graduaUy forced out, yields 

 like a stopper, breaks off and leaves an orifice 

 through whiA a stream of seeds and fluid 

 pulp is suddenly ejected. If, with a no\nce 

 hand, under a scorching sun, you shake 

 the plant, laden with yeUow fruit, you 

 are bound to be somewhat startled when 

 jou hear a noise among the leaves and 



187 



