OBSERVATIONS IN NATURAL HISTORY. 
41 
or more properly, the interior portion of the 
ripened ovary, containing the rudiments of a 
new plant. . 
Shrub; a ligneous or woody plant, of 
smaller growth than a tree, having perennial 
branches, hut without a distinct trunk. 
Spines ; indented or pointed processes, con- 
nected with the woody tissue, and which do 
not fall off : many leaves are spiny. 
Spiral vessels ; fine transparent conical 
tubes of spirally twisted fibres, which are 
supposed to be capable of conducting fluids. 
Stem ; that .part of a plant to which the 
leaves and flowers are attached ; the ascend- 
ing axis. 
Stings ; slender hair -like organs or pro- 
cesses, containing a secreted acrid venomous 
fluid, which they discharge when pressed. 
Stipules ; foliaceous appendages situated at 
the base of the true leaves of many plants, 
and often affording a good mark of distin- 
guishing species. 
Stomates; small, minute openings or pas- 
sages through the cuticle, supposed to be 
organs of exhalation chiefly, but also capable 
of imbibing such aqueous vapours as may be 
found floating in the atmosphere. 
Tendrils; slender thread-shaped twining 
organs, by which plants attach themselves 
cither to other plants or to other objects for 
support. 
Thorns; indurated abortive buds, length- 
ened into sharp pointed processes, which are 
connected with the woody tissue, and in fact 
very much resemble branches. Sometimes 
they bear buds and leaves, as may be often 
seen in those of the hawthorn. 
Tissue; the substances of which plants are 
composed are called tissues ; there are three 
distinct sorts, cellular, vascular, and woody 
tissue. 
TracJue; the same as spiral i-essels. 
Tree; a ligneous or woody plant of large 
growth, with perennial branches, and a dis- 
tinct trunk or stem. 
Trunk ; the main stem or ascending 
axis : chiefly applied in the case of trees, but 
strictly applicable to the main stem of all 
plants. 
Undershrub ; properly a kind of plant in- 
termediate between a shrub and herb, differ- 
ing from the former in partially perishing 
during winter, and from the latter in having 
branches of a woody texture often living 
more than one year. 
Utricular /issue; same as cellular tissue. 
Vaginelhe; same as rauicnta. 
Vascular tissue; simple membranous tubes, 
which are the vessels of plants; they are of 
two principal kinds, spiral vessels, and dotted 
ducts. 
Verruca; warts or sessile glands produced 
on the surface of some plants, which gives 
it a peculiar kind of roughness, which con- 
dition is called scabroiis. 
Vescicular tissue ; the same as cellular 
tissue. 
Woody tissve (Jignin) ; the solid parts of 
plants, consisting of membranous tubes lying 
in bundles, more or less compactly. It is the 
part which gives durability and stiffness to 
the vegetable fabric. 
OBSERVATIONS IN NATURAL HISTORY* 
This acceptable volume is ushered in with 
an introduction on the importance of observ- 
ing nature in all her works, and of recording 
all those facts which have any interest, or that 
appear novel. The advantage of constantly 
making notes of all we observe that is the 
least out of the common way is obvious, and 
in the course of time secures a collection of 
facts that become almost invaluable ; and there 
are no persons who have a better opportunity 
than gardeners. They move in a little world 
of natural history. Their plagues and pests, 
which are almost innumerable, afford them 
abundant means of observation, and the neces- 
sity of finding out their habits and of becom- 
ing acquainted with their complete natural 
history, ought alone to be sufficient induce- 
ment. The author of the volume before us 
says in his introduction : — 
" Let us stop to take a general view of the 
descriptions of facts which are wanted by the 
naturalist to enable him to proceed in his 
inquiries into the general principles upon 
which Nature seems to have based her system. 
For this purpose he must have under his view 
all the different species and varieties of ani- 
mals with which this earth is peopled ; and he 
ought to be able to inspect them, not merely 
in the dead or preserved state, but in the 
living or at least recently killed. Without 
this he can never closely investigate, or fully 
understand, many parts of their structure, the 
knowledge of which is sometimes essential for 
forming even the most distant idea of their 
true affinities. Besides this, there are many 
tribes of animals, especially among the lower 
classes, which, from their delicate organiza- 
tion, are scarcely capable of being preserved 
at all. To study these, therefore, and to 
obtain even the most general view of their 
organization, it will be necessary for him to 
resort to the spots where they are found. But 
* Observations in Natural History ; with an introduc- 
tion on habits of observing, as connected with the study 
of that science. Also a Calendar of periodic phenome> 
na in natural history ; with remarks on the importance 
of such registers. 15 y the Rev. Leonard Jenyns, M.A., 
F.L.S., etc., Vicar of Swaftbarn Bulbeclc, Cambridge- 
shire. London : John Van Voorst. Paternoster-row. 
