THE BEEF-WOOD TRIBE. 



85 



the seed is collected into 

 a sort of cone, which once 

 led to the opinion that 

 they belonged to the pine 

 tribe." 



" I am glad they have 

 catkins and cones to show 

 that they are living, and 

 not dead trees," said 

 Mary ; " but I should like 

 to know why they have 

 the odd name of beef- 

 wood trees.'' 



" They are called so by 

 the colonists because the 

 timber is very much the 

 colour of raw beef. One 

 of the species is also called 

 the she-oak, because its 

 branches and cones con- 

 tain a pleasant acid, and 

 travellers suffering from 

 thirst obtain great relief 

 by chewing them. I must 

 now ask Mary, who is 



BKEF-\VOCD TEEK. 



