( 40 ) 
this clothing in their tender Hate feems in- 
tended to preferve them from fevere winds, 
and from the extremes of heat and cold, 
which purpofe it is well adapted to anfwer. 
Arms is the general term for thofe points, 
which prevent animals from injuring the 
plants ; thefe arms confift of Prickles, Thorns, 
Forks, and Stings. The fhrubs and trees which 
have Prickles and Thorns for their defence are 
grateful food to animals, as gorfe (ulex) and 
goofeberry (ribes), and would be quickly de- 
voured, if not thus armed. The large hollies in 
Needwood Forcft are armed with thorny leaves 
about eight feet high, and have fmooth leaves 
above ; which is a curious circumftance, as it 
would feem to imply a confcioufnefs in the 
trees, that when their branches were out of 
reach of the deer, they had no occafion for 
arms. But though they may thus preferve 
their lower branches from the attacks of the 
deer, they cannot defend themfelves from the 
depredations of the keepers, who lop their 
upper boughs in winter, and ftrew them on 
the ground, and thus furnifh their herds with 
a grateful food, when herbage is fcarce. The 
deer peel off the bark from thefe branches 
with great dexterity; and this with the 
fmooth 
