THE INDIAN HUNTER. 75 



a colour somewhat resembling the animal. In 

 this case the leaf with its pointed lobes represents 

 the facial outline and ears, while the colour is 

 another part of the signature ; a frog is also used 

 for the same animal. An ovate or roundish leaf 

 without a sinus is the charm for the labba, because 

 it is supposed to resemble the swollen cheeks 

 of that animal. Another variety with small leaves, 

 generally oval, is chosen for the turtle and its eggs. 



One of the finest game birds is the powis or 

 curassow ; a frog is rubbed into scratches on the 

 breast as a general charm for this as well as 

 other birds. The special beena is, however, a 

 Calathea, the leaves of which are supposed to 

 resemble the bird's tail, the scaly root its feather 

 crest, and the tubers its yellow beak. Some of 

 the fish beenas are also Calatheas; the sheen 

 upon their leaves represents that of the fish. A 

 striking charm for cat-fishes is Acontias helle- 

 borifolius, the leaves of which are digitate and 

 rather narrow, suggesting the barbels of the fish. 

 A Caladium with a silvery grey sheen is suffi- 

 ciently like the fish for which it is used, as are 

 also some spotted varieties, and one with a 

 suffused centre the colour of the gills. 



Not only does the fisherman inoculate himself 

 with his charms, but he also mixes them with 



