THE DEADLY MANZANILLO 



423 



sound produced by striking two pebbles rapidly together, 

 ending with more of a grating sound. 



In the arid regions of the West dwells the largest 

 and most unwren-like of all the wrens, the cactus wren. 

 It is a gray bird with a white spotted breast whose 

 large, retort-shaped nests are one of the most character- 

 istic sights of the cactus covmtry. Its song is the least 

 musical of any member of the family, although it is 

 given in characteristic wren fashion, with the tail 

 drooping and the head thrown back. 



In the dry, rock-bound regions of the West, where 

 most bird life is scarce, lives the rock Xi'ren, whose curi- 

 ous tinkling song is one of the few redeeming 



features of the desolate rock slides of the mountains. 



In the canyons it is the song of the canyon wren 

 that so frequently causes the rocks to reverberate with 

 wild ringing notes. The bugler, it is sometimes called, 

 but a tiny bugler indeed, less than six inches in length and 

 so inconspicuous that were it not for its white throat it 

 would escape unseen. 



The Parkman wren and the Vigors wren of the Pa- 

 cific coast region are the western representatives of the 

 eastern house wren and the Bewick's wren. The com- 

 mon wren of Europe and the British Islands, or Jenny 

 wren, as it is often called, is a species very similar to our 

 winter wren in color, song, and habits. 



THE DEADLY MANZANILLO 



BY FRANK COYNE 



LITERATURE on the tropics abounds with stories 

 of poisonous plants and trees, and to this beautiful 

 tree, arching many a roadway with its glossy 

 green leaves and rose-tinted flowers, has been ascribed 



MANZANILLO GROVE, CURACAO, DUTCH WEST INDIES 



This beautiful little grove belies the deadly reputation which tradition has at- 

 tached to the manzanillo that he who partakes of the fruit, or sleeps under the 

 trees, is likely to sleep forever. 



the deadly poisonous properties of the far-famed Upas 

 tree of the East. 



To the fruit of this tree, more than to the efifect of 

 its foliage, is due its evil name. Manzanillo in Spanish 

 means " little apple," and in the Papiamento tongue of 

 the blacks of Curasao, Dutch West Indies, living in 

 their little thatched huts, the name Manzanillo is pro- 

 nounced but slightly differently from the Spanish. 



It has been stated by Spanish writers that if one 

 remains under its shade for a few hours or sleeps there 

 death is likely to follow, or that even if the unfortunate 

 escapes death the body will become a mass of running 

 sores. The deleterious properties of the shade of this 



tree have, however, been greatly exaggerated, and as for 

 the actual poisonous effect of the leaves and shade con- 

 siderable diversity of opinion still exists, as is the case with 

 the poison ivy of the States. 



The small, apple-shaped fruits have tempted many a 

 stranger to a much-regretted meal. As recently as the 

 summer of 1916 an officer of a Dutch steamer had a 

 narrow escape from serious poisoning, emetics and 

 stomach pumps alone saving his life. Some 32 years ago 

 54 members of the crew of a German ship were taken 

 to the local hospital, all very sick from having eaten the 

 fruit of the Manzanillo. Five of this number died and 

 the rest after serious illness for several weeks recovered. 



As is the ca^e with the question of the leaves and 

 shade, there arernany accounts of the effect of the fruit. 

 To quote from one writer, "A fish which eats the fruit 

 becomes infected, the gills becorhing yejjow and black, 

 and one who eats the fish in this state is said to fall into 

 a profound lethargy, with a general relaxation of all the 

 limbs, according to the amount eaten." 



The tree when cut exudes a quantity of white, milky 

 juice, in the same manner as the common rubber-tree, and 

 to most persons this juice has the same effect as our 

 poison-ivy. However, if this 'acrid milky juice reaches 

 the delicate membranes of the eye temporary and often 

 permanent blindness is sure 'to follow. 



The Manzanillo is a native of the West Indian Islands 

 and is usually found in moist situations. The accom- 

 panying picture shows a pure stand of the Manzanillo, 

 fringing the banks of a smill' stream on the Island of 

 Curasao. '^ 



I 



N response to an inquiry from the National Wool Grow- 

 Association, the Forest Service announced that 



ers 



stock growers having National Forest grazing preferences 

 will be permitted, if they enlist in the army or navy, to 

 retain their preferences without use of the range during 

 the period of enlistment. Those wishing to avail them- 

 selves of this privilege will file a statement similar to that 

 now required of State and Federal employees who wish to 

 discontinue use of the range during their term of service 

 without losing their preferences. 



