WATER-TANKS. 



423 



remains of which still exist. Then, as to our own country, we 

 are all practically acquainted with some water company, by 

 which the water, more or less purified, is brought into our 

 houses, and can be obtained by the mere turning of a tap. 



Yet all this ingenuity is but a following of natural proto- 

 types, as will presently be seen ; and even the familiar Water- 

 tank, as shown at the right hand of the illustration, has been 

 anticipated by Nature. 



On the left hand of the illustration there are three examples 

 of natural water-tanks, two belonging to the vegetable, and 

 one to the animal kingdom. 



That on the extreme left, with a number of radiations, repre- 

 sents a portion of a Madagascar palm, popularly called the 



TRAVELLER S TREE. STOMACH OF CAMEL PITCHER-PLANT. 



Traveller's Tree. Having very large leaves, arranged in the 

 manner there shown, the Traveller's Tree condenses the nightly 

 dews, and allows them to trickle down into the hollows of the 

 leaf-stems. 



There the water remains, out of the reach of sunbeams or 

 wind, and if a traveller happens to be thirsty, all he has to do 

 is to pierce the base of one of these gigantic leaves, and out 

 rushes a stream of the purest water, as is shown in the illus- 

 tration. 



