[page] 29

DARWIN ON CLIMBING PLANTS.─ THE MOVEMENTS AND HABITS OF CLIMBING PLANTS. By CHARLES DARWIN (Murray).—The inquiries of Mr. Darwin into the characteristics of climbing plants have in several ways been brought under public notice, but not in the complete and systematic manner in which they are presented in this delightful little volume, of which the second edition is now before us. The lover of plants who needs but casual and accidental observation of their various modes of development cannot attain to anything like a perception of the world of wonders into which such men as Mr. Darwin force their way. Not many, perhaps, are aware that twining and climbing plants revolve with the regularity of clockwork, and indeed would but rarely obtain the support they require, were they not constantly sweeping the air in circles with their slender, lengthening stems or tendrils. An initial movement, consequent, perhaps, on the more rapid growth of one side of the stem than on the other, is combined with a sensitiveness that causes a contraction and thickening of the prehensile parts as soon as contact is established, appear to be the principal characteristics of these plants, considered solely as climbers. Mr. Darwin considers them the most highly-organized members of the vegetable kingdom, and seems inclined to claim for them some higher attribute than what is generally understood as "vegetable instinct." There is always one comfort in reading the books of this earnest philosopher, and that is, that he loves facts, acquires facts by patient labour, relates facts with wonderful clearness and precision, and makes of his well-proven facts the backbone of his treatise, whatever his theories on the subject may be. As a lesson in natural theology, his treatise on climbing plants is invaluable; and although Mr. Darwin nowhere abandons his long-cherished ideas on evolution, we find him here discussing the object of a plant in climbing, its selection of the means whereby to climb, and its capability of varying its mode of procedure to suit variations of conditions. He thus labours with the earnestness proper to a lover of truth to make the climbing plants testify that "the hand that made us is Divine."