NATURE'S BEAUTIES. 183 



family, the tendrils of which are frequently no thicker 

 than ordinary whipcord, and not unfrequently extend 

 many yards from the roots. Every six or eight 

 inches, and close to where the leaves are thrown out, 

 are to be found two thorns, the upper one straight, the 

 lower one curved like a fish-hook. This arrangement 

 is formidable enough, in all conscience ; but the same 

 diabolical combination exists on the other side of the 

 tendril, which, by the way, is as tough to break as a 

 piece of salmon gut. Thus, if you happen to be caught 

 by the thorns on one side and you pull against them, 

 those on the reverse side will turn round and assist 

 their brethren. So the more you haul, pull, and 

 especially jerk yourself to get free, the firmer will you 

 become bound. 



" All's well that ends well." Nobody being injured, 

 we continued our search for the steinbuck, which, in a 

 short distance, we found lying across the path, dead. 

 These little beauties are certainly the perfection of 

 form and shape. I never kill them without regret ; 

 but justify my conduct in doing so with the belief, that 

 they were intended for man's food, and so resolve 

 that to no other purpose shall their bodies be 

 applied. 



