228 ' ARAUCARINEiE 



those who cannot persuade themselves to look upon 



it as a *' thing of beauty and a joy for ever." 



We will specify a few of these little idiosyncrasies, 



some of which it lays claim to the sole proprietorship 



of :— 



(i) It is, as all authorities have maintained, the 

 only indigenous tree, south of the Equator 

 in the New World, that has grown to 

 timber-producing size in the stranger tem- 

 peratures of more northern lands. 



(2) It has not only physical features that have 



earned it the reputation of offering a 

 deterrent obstacle to the climbing ambitions 

 of the monkey tribe, but also presents 

 to view a bark that Miss North described 

 as of a " neat honey-comb-like pattern, 

 which reminded her of a child's puzzle." 

 A tree that can provide puzzles which alike 

 check monkeys and baffle children must 

 assuredly be possessed of qualities that are 

 both subtle and original, and entitle it to 

 consideration from us, if not. esteem. 



(3) It ranks with the Gingkos, Cryptomerias, 



and a few select others, as among the oldest 

 of trees found in geological strata. It has 

 been discovered in the Eocene formations 

 of England and France, so that at one time 

 it must have presented a more frequent 

 and wide-spread appearance upon the face 

 of the earth than we have found it to do 

 in our day. It has also been found to be 

 an habitue of realms more ancient still, and 

 as deep down in those geological evidences 

 of the world's history known as the Jurassic 

 Strata of the Secondary Era, that dateless 

 date when reptiles swarmed and swam, and 

 reigned supreme. Can any man, beast, or 



