152 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE chap. 



Every keen sportsman will admit tliat a 

 varied "bag" has a special charm, and the 

 botanist in a summer's walk may see at least 

 a hundred plants in flower, all with either the 

 interest of novelty, or the charm of an old 

 friend. 



ON SEEDLINGS 



In many cases the Seedlings afford us an 

 interesting insight into the former condition 

 of the plant. Thus the leaves of the Furze 

 are reduced to thorns ; but those of the Seed- 

 ling are herbaceous and trifoliate like those of 

 the Herb Genet and other allied species, sub- 

 sequent ones gradually passing into spines. 

 This is evidence that the ancestors of the 

 Furze bore leaves. 



Plants may be said to have their habits as 

 well as animals. 



SLEEP OF PLANTS 



Many flowers close their petals during 

 rain ; the advantage of which is that it pre- 

 vents the honey and pollen from being spoilt 



