412 - TORPOR OF VEGETABLES. 
seen collected together on a small piece of water 
near Plymouth, which could have contained no 
suitable prey, but minnows, and sticklebacks ; this 
party kept up an incessant noisy harangue. I have 
been informed that a nest of this species was found 
on the side of the river Yealm, placed in a hollow of 
an ash stump, the entrance to the cavity being just 
wide enough to admit the birds. Other kinds of 
birds, besides the present, are known to shift their 
quarters in the same way as above described, giving 
opportunities for dispersion of their species taken 
as a whole; but I recollect no instance so remark- 
able as the Kingfisher. Although the Kingfisher 
is nearly always a breeder in the banks of rivers, 
it does occasionally nestle on the coasts. They 
are almost invariably seen in summer at Berry 
Head. 
Vegetables.—The torpid state of the vital powers 
so often noticed in the animal kingdom, 1s manifestly 
extended to a large proportion of the vegetable 
world indigenous to cold countries. The Potatoe 
which with us is placed in a climate not very diffe- 
rent from that of which it was a native, is an instance. 
Its vital powers continue through the winter resident 
though dormant in its tubers, and as with animals, 
exposure to the sun and air awakens its vitality at 
that season and induces a deteriorated quality im 
its farina. After being “ caved” they ought not to be 
disturbed till wanted for use. 
Insects.—Towards October, greatnumbers of bees, 
flies, centipedes, slugs, and a profusion of other 
kinds of insects lay themselves up in a semi-torpid 
state under the warm covering of the moss on trees 
in plantations and on rocks, and though this in- 
stinct may be admired in the economy of these 
animals themselves, we may perhaps be more 
struck with the Providence thus shewn towards 
