204 SHARP EYES- 



opening everywhere in the woods among the yellow 

 blossoms. Each pod contains two long black shining 

 seeds of bony hardness. The pod splits in half, expos- 

 ing the two white-tipped seeds. The edges of the 

 horny cells contract against the sides of the seed, and 

 finally expel it with surprising force, sometimes to the 

 distance of over forty feet. If we sit quiet on a sunny 

 day in a witch-hazel copse we may hear the dry leaves 

 rattle with the. continual bombardment. A branch of 

 the unopened pods brought home and placed in the 

 vase upon the mantel will afford considerable amuse- 

 ment as the seeds rattle about the room, singling out 

 their whimsical targets, or, perhaps, carrom around from 

 walls and ceiling, from the glass lamp-shade upon the 

 table, or the evening newspaper of paterfamilias, or, 

 possibly, the bald spot upon his head. 



