52 LEAF-CLIMBERS. Cuapr. IL. 
with the basal portions of their petioles. The leaves 
whilst young are nearly of the same shape as those 
of C. viticella, and act in the same manner like a hook, 
as will be described under that species. But the leaflets 
are more divided, and each segment whilst young 
terminates in a hardish point, which is much curved 
downwards and inwards; so that the whole leaf readily 
catches hold of any neighbouring object. The petioles 
of the young terminal leaflets are acted on by loops 
of thread weighing {th and even 4th of a grain. 
The basal portion of the main petiole is much 
less sensitive, but will clasp a stick against which it 
presses. 
The leaves, whilst young, are continually and sponta- 
neously moving slowly. A bell-glass was placed over 
a shoot secured to a stick, and the movements of the 
leaves were traced on it during several days. A very 
irregular line was generally formed; but one day, in 
the course of eight hours and three quarters, the 
figure clearly represented three and a half irregular 
ellipses, the most perfect one of which was completed 
in 2hrs. 835m. The two opposite leaves moved 
independently of each other. This movement of the 
leaves would aid that of the internodes in bringing 
the petioles into contact with surrounding objects. 
I discovered this movement too late to be enabled to 
observe it in the other species; but from analogy I 
can hardly doubt that the leaves of at least C. viticella, 
C. flammula, and C. vitalba move spontaneously ; and, 
judging from C. Steboldi, this probably is the case with 
