UNDKK(;K(H ND SIM^ES FURNISHED DEFENSE AGAINST PECCARIES 



The sawljricr (Smilax Boiiauox) is one of the few plants which arc furnished witli underground 

 spines. Its relatives all have spines above ground, but the sawbrier was forced to develop 

 spines below ground as well in order to protect itself against the efforts of wild pigs to get at 

 its starchy roots. Although the w^ld pigs are not now so numerous in many localities as to 

 be a menace to the j)lant, the sawbrier still finds the s])iny armor a valued protection against 

 the domesticated hog. The al)ove photograph is from a sjK'cimcn collected in South Caro- 

 lina by J. B. Norton, who is at present working on the relationship and past history of this 

 group and the manner in which the different species reached America from the original home 

 of the genus in northern India. (Fig. 10.) 



