Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-05

selves up against each other and lay
the soles of their feet together. Then
the broad soles glide back and forth
against each other and the animals
stroke and lick each other in lively
manner. After time one animal be-
gins to act In a very different manner
from the other. 1t expands the fore
part OF the head powerfully and then
shoots the arrow-shaped body at its
partner. The arrow usually penetrates
the edges OF the foot sole. rarely pierre
ing the inner part of the sole, and
since it is possessed Of a not inconsid-
cradle length and often bores clear in,
the injuries caused by it are not only
very painful. but may be directly dam
gerous. The arrow acts as a stimulus
organ. 1t introduces the amative life
of the snail, and on this account the
biologists have named it the love ar
row. The shooting of the arrow is ac-
complished by means of muscles which
are placed on the ground and in the
lower portions of the wall Of the arrow
sac. They are capable of contracting
with extreme rapidity. We have here,
therefore. sort of cross bow"
This completes the list of the ami
mails who avail themselves Of the pro-
jectiles OF which Dr. Damn writes. Mr..
Couptn, however, gives brief list of
plant projectiles. The object of the
plant is usually the projection of its
seeds to points of vantage from which,
to begin the struggle for existence on
their own account. Sometimes, how
ever. pollen is thus projected to a dis
lance in order to secure cross fertiliza-
ton.
The fruit Of the wild cucumber or Ec-
balium is supported by peduncle re-
curver in the form of Bishops cross
in such sort that the point of attach
ment is turned upward. When ripe the
fruit detaches itself from it's support
and through the gaping aperture thus
produced it projects with very great
force the seeds which it contains in the
midst of mucila ginous liquid to a dis
lance of 1 or 2 meters Ga yard or two).
This vegetable 'cracheur is exploited
by children. who direct the jet at the
face Of comrade by way Of pleas
antry."
| More familiar in this country is the
common balsam of our gardens. It's
curious fruit, shown in the illustration.
is doubtless known to most of our
| readers. When ripe it splits accord
ing to the five longitudinal lines, and
the five valves thus separated twist
suddenly upon themselves. thus
LAUNCHING in every direction the seeds
which are slightly attached to them
Shortly before maturity is reached
the slightest touch causes the rupture
to take place Immediately; it is for this
! reason that the expressive name of
Impatient touch-me- is often
given to the balsam-a name which
! the botanists have translated into Lat
in: Jmpatiens noli tangen. All the
other species Of balsam act in the
| same manner.
Not less singular Is the sand-box
(Iura creptans), a large tree of Amer
ica whose extremely hard fruit looks
like a tomato. At maturity this fruit
opens suddenly with a noise loud as a
pistol shot, and projecting it's valves
and seeds to a distance. To preserve
the fruit of the sand-boX in collections
it is necessary to encompass it with
several windings of iron wire, and dis
astrous instances are quoted where the
force of the fruit was sufficient to
break these bonds and smash the glass
frames that contained it."-Scientific
American.