( ® I 
the definition of this term Linneus has de- 
parted from his ufual accuracy; he has defined 
the Aril to be, " the proper exterior coat of 
" the feed,"' from which it is evidently 
. wholly diftincT:, and rather may be faid to 
form a part of the Pericarp, or feed-veflel, 
than of the feed itfelf. In Fraxinella, Die- 
tamnus, the Aril is very confpicuous, being 
compofed of a. material refembling parchment* 
and is found lying within the fweet-fcented 
outer-hulk of the Capfules. In wood-forrel, 
Oxalis acetosella, the Aril is a little white cafe, 
which, if held in, the hand till warm, burfts- 
with confiderable force, and the fmall mining 
black feeds leap from their coverings with 
furprifing velocity. Nature has not been more 
various in her modes of protecting the dif- 
ferent kinds of feeds from injury during their 
infant ftate, than fhe has been ingenious in the 
means me has contrived for their difperfion, 
when arrived at an age of maturity. Some me 
htfs enabled to fly by a fmall light crown fixed 
on their tops, others have fingle feathers, others 
fmall feathery tufts: every child is well ac- 
quainted with the feathered feeds of dandelion 
(leontodon), and has proved, by blowing on 
them, how fmall a degree of air is required 
for 
