Mimetic resemblances are much more numerous among fruits and seeds than in flowers. A very curious example is Orphicaryon paradoxum, the snake-nut of Demerara, inside which is the coiled embryo resembling a small snake. Among others mentioned by Lord Avebury are Tricosanthes anguina, the pod of which assumes a snake-like guise; Scorpiurus vermiculata, with pods in the form of a worm or caterpillar; S. subvillosa and Biserrula pelecinus, where the resemblance is to a centipede and certain lupines with spider-like seeds. The seeds of Abrus precatorius, Martynia diandra, Jatropha, the castor oil plant and the scarlet runner mimic certain beetles. The presence of a caruncle representing the head of the insect renders the imitation more complete; this structure takes no part in germination, and Kerner is of opinion that it prevents the ants from attacking the substance of the seeds which they drag about from place to place. The ox-tongue and cow-wheat have worm-like seeds, and several plants have fruit difficult to distinguish from little pieces of dry twig. The jet-black, shining seeds and achenes of Delphinium, Helleborus, Juncus, Atriplex, Polygonum, etc., are easily mistaken for beetles; the brightly colored seeds of Iris Germanica are also in all probability mimetic. The beautiful glossy scarlet and black piebald seeds of Abrus known as rosary beans perhaps escape destruction through birds mistaking them for some nauseous insect gaudily attired in warning colors. But from the manner in which the seed-vessels of Iris and Arbus dehisce and expose their seeds the brilliant colors of the latter would appear to subserve dissemination rather than protection. Such hard seeds are probably dispersed through the agency of insectivorous birds, which seize them in mistake for their more legitimate prey. According to Lord Avebury, the beans of Abrus mimic the beetle Artemis circumusta. The smaller seeds, known as crab’s eyes, are colored in an analogous manner. These cases are the less surprising if we have regard to the fact that the majority of dry fruits, though green while growing, become black or brown when they fall to the ground, so that their general tint corresponds with their surroundings and tends to concealment.