116 



NATURE S TEACHINGS. 



pike, and with the use of which many of my readers are 

 probably acquainted. 



The third is a singularly ingenious hook made by the 

 natives of British Columbia. It is almost entirely made of 

 wood, with the exception of the barb, which is of bone. 

 This, as the reader will see, is fixed, not to the point of the 

 hook, as with us, but to its base, the point being directed 

 towards the central portion of the curve. 



At first sight this seems to be a singular arrangement, but it 

 is a very effective one, as any one may see by placing the 



HYMEDESMIA. 



FRUIT OF GALIUM. 



VANCOUVER HOOK. 



DOUBLE AND 

 SINGLE HOOKS. 



point between the fingers and pushing it through them. It- 

 will be found impossible to force it back again, the sharp point 

 of the bone-barb coming against them and retaining them. 



It has also another advantage. Very large fish, for which 

 this hook is intended, are apt in their struggles to reverse the 

 hook, and so to weaken its hold. In this hook, however, such 

 a proceeding is impossible ; for, even should the hook be 

 reversed, it still retains its hold, the barb becoming the point, 

 and the point keeping the lip of the fish against the tip of the 

 barb. The figure is drawn from a specimen in my collection. 



IF the reader will look at fche illustration, he will see a 

 globular object covered with little hooks. This is a magnified 

 representation of the seed-vessel of the common Goose-grass 

 (Galium), which is so luxuriant in our hedges, and often 

 intrudes itself into our gardens. Its long, trailing stems, with 

 their tightly-clinging leaves, are familiar to all, and there are 

 few who have not, while children, pelted each other with the 



