12 



may pcrliaps be considered as botli oHi'Usive and 

 defensive ; iind it li;is been, and no doubt eor- 

 rectly, supposed to bo given to these animals as a 

 ^iem<>f paraetirii^g (ktit food, tife bpDombiii^ 



tibeir pt^ vlien touched unable to escape. For 

 wli at purpose tb is aerif! property is found existing- 

 in the vegetable kingdom, it is difficult to decide, 

 and all ttat has yet been said oa the subject 



ixn^nee, at the island of Singapore there is a 

 remarkable species of the order h'uei. usuallv 

 foiuid <>'rowing in isolated patclies upon coral 

 banks. Finlayson thus mentions it: " It is pin- 

 nated^ pliitsn^ «!i^aiit, abont: a, imi mA a &alf 

 in lengtli^ diidof a whitisli colotu*. It is endued 

 with a property of stinging like nettles ; the 

 sensation jjvodueed is more acute anil more 

 penetrating, more instantaneous, but somewhat 



mms; pem^fi^t. Tbe hmi hsfsmiAy lamight 

 fut^ exmimt with it, before lli^ wcni^d i$ tiiflkted* 

 A small corrugated granular bag, filled with a 

 trans])arent fluid, would seem to be the organ by 

 whieii it produces this elieet. TJiese are no 

 myHf lotzched tlmn they discharge the Hnid 

 they «oiitalii^ The fimt mm. Io8«s this p&wer 

 after being removed from the water." Tim 

 plant seeins, tlierefoiie, to possesi^ an oHeusive 



