THE SUB-TROPICAL ZONE. 147 



half high, of a reddish yellow colour, which 

 are often mistaken at a distance for crouching 

 deer ; but when more, closely examined the 

 resemblance vanishes. These little mounds are 

 formed of low cactus plants, the leaves of which 

 are pressed close to each other, and covered with 

 reddish yellow spines, two or three inches long, 

 between which the flowers appear, but do not 

 rise above them. 



