The hawk does not attack its prey 

 with its beak, as is generally supposed, 

 but with its talons. After securing its 

 prey by swooping on it and fastening 

 its claws in its victim it gently de- 

 scends to the ground. 



The young hawk yet in the nest is 

 called an eyas, one that can hop is a 

 brancher, and a young hawk able to 

 catch game is called a soar hawk. 

 Young hawks taken in flying are called 



passage hawks, and the training of 

 these is called reclaiming. 



Hawking was for many years a sport 

 followed by kings and the nobility in 

 Europe. It is of very ancient origin, hav- 

 ing been followed in Asia and Europe 

 before the time of the Christian era. 



The hawk builds its nest in the 

 forks of a tree or on some inaccessible 

 cliff. The female is larger than the 

 male and lays two or three eggs. 



CURIOUS TREES. 



1. In Malabar, a tree called "the tal- 

 low tree" grows; from the seeds of it, 

 when boiled, is procured a firm tallow 

 which makes excellent candles. 



2. The "butter tree" was discovered 

 by Park in the central part of Africa; 

 from its kernel is produced a nice but- 

 ter which will keep a year. 



3. The palo de vaca, or "cow tree," 

 grows on rocks in Venezuela, South 

 America. It has dry and leathery 

 leaves, and from incisions made in its 

 trunk a kind of milk oozes out, which 

 is tolerably thick and of an agreeable 

 balmy smell. At sunrise, the natives 

 may be seen hastening from all quar- 

 ters furnished with large bowls to re- 

 ceive the milk. 



4. A tree of Madagascar, called the 

 "traveler's tree, "yields a copious supply 

 of fresh water from its leaves, very 

 grateful to the traveler. It grows in 

 the most arid countries, and is another 

 proof of the tender care of our Heav- 

 enly Father in supplying all His crea- 

 tures' wants. Even in the driest 

 weather a quart of water can be ob- 

 tained by piercing a hole at the bottom 



of the leaf stalk, and the liquid is pure 

 and pleasant to the taste. The leaves 

 are of enormous size, varying from ten 

 to fifteen feet in length. 



5. The date tree is a species of palm, 

 and almost every part of it is valuable. 

 Its fruit is delicious and it is also es- 

 teemed for the palm wine drawn from 

 its trunk. Its leaves are made into 

 hats, baskets, fans, and many other 

 articles, and the fibres of the leaf stems 

 are made into cord and twine. A de- 

 partment store might almost be fur- 

 nished from this tree. 



6. The "sorrowful tree" is found on 

 the island of Goa, near Bombay. It is 

 so called because it flourishes in the 

 night. At sunset no flowers are to be 

 seen, but soon after it is covered with 

 them. They close up or drop off asthe 

 sun rises. It has a fragrant odor, and 

 blossoms at night the year round. 



7. There is a tree in Jamaica called 

 the "life tree," whose leaves grow even 

 when severed from the plant. It is im- 

 possible to kill it save by fire. — Normal 

 Instructor. 



