92 . SHARP EYES 



another, the fence. In the latter haunt it often thrives 

 very luxuriantly, enveloping the decaying post in the 

 coils of its brown shaggy trunk, and sending out smooth, 

 bush -like branches from the summit quite in the man- 

 ner of the true European ivy, not as we see it in this 

 country, where it usually clings close to its wall, but 

 as it everywhere luxuriates among the castle and abbey 

 ruins of the Old World. 



This last habit of the poison -ivy occasionally gives 

 rise to a singular tree-like form. I recall one such spec- 

 imen, which is possibly a hundred years old, and though 

 no vestige of a fence now marks its neighborhood, it 

 was doubtless once fostered on a fence-post which has 

 become obliterated in decay. 



But there need be no trouble in identifying the poi- 

 son-ivy in any of its forms. The hairy trunk will often 

 serve us, but there are two other features which are of 

 much more value. 



First let us remember that its leaves are always 

 grouped in threes whatever the outlines of their more 

 or less wavy margins. 



In some sections the plant is always called the " three- 

 leaved ivy." And this naturally leads me to a consider- 

 ation of that other vine with similar habits which is 

 commonly known in the same localities as the ""jive- 

 leaved ivy," and a leaf of which I have here pictured 

 (see tail-piece). 



This is a leaf of the Ampelopsis quinque-folia (qninque- 

 folia five leaves), also called Virginia creeper and 

 woodbine. Look at the leaf, and fix its form in your 

 mind. This is one of our most beautiful native climb- 

 ers. It is allied to the grape-vine, is perfectly harm- 

 less, and is the one innocent victim that has to suffer 



