THE BANIAN TREE. SJ9 
- "*A a gelatinous flesh, full of small mouths 
which It absorbs and rejects water. The 
JHcjq the animal inhabitant within its cell has been 
■1^'His ” ^ ascertained by the observations and experiments 
'he spongia torm'entosa. _ He remarked its con- 
l^lion exposed to pain or injury, as well a« the ex- 
rjestgj’I. inspiration of water through its tubes. He 
Jthg Jj^l'ed the position that sponge is an animal, and 
Wi 
V,,. 
"^hich it receives its nourishment, and discharges 
* This position chemistry has 
lantly supported, by proving the ammoniacal 
the cellular substance of sponge. 
®'ids or openings of the 
le^^Miich- ° 
\ ttientitious matter. 
THE BANIAN TREE. 
jo the vegetable jdngdom, the banian, or 
Aa*"®’ tlie JicHS indica of Linnetis, claims a particular 
' • It is considered as one of the most curious and 
of nature’s productions in the genial climate 
Ofe she sports with the greatest protusion and 
of 
K'j - - 
r'^oh tree is in itself a grove, and some of them 
'^oiitr continually increa.sing, 
\ *■? animal and vegetable produc- 
"e 
, tile “ exempted from decay ; for every branch 
v'l ten throws out its own roots, at first in 
' hbres, several yards from die ground, which 
V‘ts thicker; until, by a gradual descent, they 
1 lit “ur'ac™ - — 1 — .> ■ . ' 
S’Abec 
C''>3na^*'®oe; where, striking in, they increase to a large 
‘title 
corne a parent tree, throwing out new branches 
'i -s ti '^'0^0 suspend their roots, and. 
If *l>OQt ".“'■^’■'shment from the earth, swell into trunk.s, 
C'gtes ; * other branches ; thus continuing in a state 
A , *'en., ®o long the first parent of diem all supplies 
v,Ha,,ig“'-oe. 
%l’ many trunks, forms the most beautiful 
S cool recesses, that can be imagined. 
tile large, soft, and of a lively 
green ; 
the fruit 
to '''bon ripe of a brigiit scailei ; afiurdiiig sus- 
V^ljj^ Otonkeys, squirrels, peacocks, and birds of 
^ Hinn’ dwell among the bratichc.s. 
doos are peculiarly f'tnd pf this tree -. diey con- 
