23 
LIFE, IN ITS LOWER FORMS. 
actions, still more unaccountable than those just noticed, 
are thus described by the younger Linmeus 1 “No sooner 
had the plants raised from seed acquired their ternate 
leaves, than they began to be in motion in every direc- 
tion : this movement did not cease during the whole 
course of their vegetation, nor were they observant of any 
time, order, or direction : one leaflet frequently revolved, 
while the other on the same petiole was quiescent ; some- 
times a few leaflets only were in motion, then almost all 
of them would be in movement at once ; the whole plant 
was very seldom agitated, and that only during the first 
year.” These motions, which are little dancings or start- 
ings to and fro, are much more lively in the native country 
of the plant than in our best stoves. What is curious is, 
that if the leaflets be held between the fingers for a short 
time, and thus prevented from moving, immediately on 
their release they dance with renewed rapidity, as if to 
make up for the lost timo. 
All these, however, are examples of motions in the organs 
of plants ; but there are not wanting instances of sponta- 
neous locomotion. The Oscillatorice, a tribe of minute 
plants among the Conferva;, derive their name from the 
spontaneous movements which they display. They oscillate 
to the right and left, and shift their position with consi- 
derable rapidity, often travelling ten times their own length 
in a few hours, and that when every precaution has been 
taken to prevent agitation of the wator in which they 
grow, and to exclude the influence of external agents. 
The motion of these vegetable tubes has a writhing, 
twisting, undulating, creeping character ; almost identical 
with that of animal movement. 
