236 A. EF. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands. 648 
for making bailing dishes for boats. For this purpose it is only 
necessary to saw them into two equal parts. ‘They are very durabie 
for this use. i 
The tree itself is not a handsome one, for it usually grows in a 
rather straggling and irregular shape. The huge fruits, about the size 
and shape of a large football, distributed irregularly on the branches, ~ 
give the tree a very curious appearance. The leaves are clustered. 
There are many very old trees of this kind on the islands, some 
of which have been repeatedly bent and broken, or partly uprooted 
by former tempests, but having again taken root, some of them have 
become very picturesque. It seems to be very tenacious of life. 
The old tree at Walsingham, known as “’'Tom Moore’s Calabash 
Tree,” has been mentioned above (p. 440). It is not so large as 
many others and has lost some of its larger branches in severe 
tempests. 
Fiddlewood Tree. (Citharexylum quadrangulare Jacq.) 
Puate LXX. 
This tree, which belongs to the Verbena-family (Verbenacez), has 
become thoroughly naturalized and is now the most common decidu- 
ous tree on the islands. It often grows wild in the cedar thickets, 
where its light green foliage contrasts strongly with the dark green 
of the cedar. It spreads both by means of its numerous seeds and 
by suckers from the spreading roots. 
The first tree planted is said to have been the large one, about five — 
feet in diameter, that stands in the lawn in front of the old house at 
Paynter’s Vale; it was planted about 1830-32. (See plate Ixx.) 
All others on the islands are believed to be descendants of this tree. 
It lost some of its larger branches in the great hurricane of Sept. 12, 
1899. This tree is native of the West Indies and Guiana. 
Sweet Bay Tree; True Laurel. (Laurus nobilis L.) 
Not uncommon in old gardens. This is the classical laurel of the 
Old World. 
India-rubber Tree. (/%icus elastica Roxb.) 
This tree is said to have been introduced from South America in 
1826. It is easily propagated and grows rapidly. Several large 
trees are notable, especially one near Flatts Village. The largest 
one in Hamilton, over 12 feet in circumference, blew down in the 
1899 hurricane. Native of Asia. 
