THE DEVILS-CLAW— III 



Having completely shed its gourd- 

 like coverings and with its jaws set for 

 a passing animal, it will be seen that 

 the pod itself is covered with prickly 

 spines. When the fishhook points of 

 the prongs bite into the leg of an ani- 

 mal, the whole contrivance becomes 

 balanced from, these points, and at each 

 jolt and jounce the heavier body of the 

 pod pounds down upon the leg, its 

 spines causing great pain. There is a 

 small opening between the two prongs 

 at the upper end of the pod itself from 

 which the seeds come out, one at a time, 

 at every bounce. When these are scat- 

 tered over a mile or two of new en- 

 vironment, the pod has performed its 

 appointed mission. 



