INTRODUCTION 
hidden in pine cones. So, in fact, is the radiant cardinal 
that hides through the winter among the thick branches 
of the cedar tree. 
All these birds have the short, stout, cone-shaped bills 
of the seed-eaters, that often crack a grain of corn. All 
have nine large feathers in each wing, which is the scien¬ 
tific trade-mark of the family. Fundamentally all these 
birds are alike. By grouping them, a knowledge of one 
becomes a knowledge of all. 
Likewise in the vegetable kingdom may the members 
be divided into families. Such a family is that of the 
gourds. It is a revelation to find that the watermelon, the 
cucumber, the cantaloupe, the pumpkin are gourds. The 
vines on which all these gourds grow sprawl on the ground 
and are almost identical. Weak and spindling as they 
are, they grow bigger fruit than any other plant in the 
world. Study the habits of one of them and you will 
know them all. The secrets of the group are revealed by 
the single individual. 
Thus, when the manner in which plants divide them¬ 
selves into families is understood, it becomes not so diffi¬ 
cult for one to study a number of individuals, fit them 
into their families, and have something of an understand¬ 
ing of the whole. 
This matter of plant families is fascinating. One is 
greatly surprised, when he is presented to the bean family, 
to find that the pod of the clover of the fields entitles it 
to admission into this group. The towering locust tree 
IX 
