45 
oosumed, the more the roots increase* The great Ju^ 
kor of fiature desi^yiied that the deh'crhtful verdure 
f these plants should cover the surface of the earth, and 
hat they should afford nourishment to an almost infinite 
umber of animals. And what increases our astonish- 
ment most, is, that although the Grasses constitute the 
rincipal food of herbivorous animals, yet, whilst they 
re left at liberty in the pasture, they leave untouched 
She culm which support the flowers; that the seeds 
lay ripen and sow themselves. And on lofty moun- 
lins, where the summer heats are hardly sufficient to 
;,pen the seeds, the most common Grasses are, the T'es- 
ucA ovina, the Poa alpina, and the Air a Ccespitosa, 
II which are viviparous, and consequently propagate 
lemselves by bulbs without seeds. 
In general, the leaves furnish pasturage for cattle; 
le smaller seeds are food for birds, and the larger for 
iien* But some are preferred to others; as the Fes- 
JCA for sheep; the Poa for Cows; the Phalaris for 
anary-birds and Linnets ; the Avena for Horses ; the 
ascALE HoRDEUM and Triticum for Man. 
Variety of Insects too derive their nourishment from 
jji'asses; as the Papilio mcm^a^ Pap, JEgeria, Pap* 
^alatea^ Pap. Jurtina, Pap. Cmria, Phalcena quer*- 
gfolia, Ph. Potato7ia, Ph. culmella, Chrysojnda Gra- 
and several others. 
Class IV. Tetranjdria, contains several aggre- 
, iTE FLOWERS, (aggregated, which are included 
■ ithin one common calyx, as in the compound flowers, 
"it differ from these in having four stamina, th© anthers 
i'^OJ-. I. i-E 
I 
