244 Field, Forest, and Wayside Flowers 
toward the north. ‘‘ The tendrils of the Virginia 
creeper exhibit,” says Darwin, ‘‘no marked or 
regular revolving movement, though they show a 
decided tendency to turn from the light toward 
the dark.” But the vital force which they save 
by thus living in comparative quiet and ease seems 
expended in movements, few and slight, yet 
strangely like those of a reasoning creature. These 
tendrils have generally several branches, each in- 
stinct with vitality. When they meet with a flat 
surface they all turn toward it, spread themselves 
as far apart as possible, and bring their hooked 
tips into close contact with it. ‘‘In effecting 
this,” says Darwin, ‘‘the several branches after 
touching the surface often rise up, place themselves 
in a new position, and again come down into con- 
tact with it. In the course of about two days 
after a tendril has arranged its branches so as to 
press upon any surface, its curved tips swell, be- 
come bright-red, and form on their under sides little 
disks, or cushions, with which they adhere firmly.” 
As these disks soon fasten themselves to smooth 
surfaces, naturalists believe that the vine secretes a 
little resinous vegetable cement, by means of which 
the tendril tip sticks fast to the spot which it has 
selected. After it has made sure of its hold, the 
