384 EXPLANATOEY INDEX. 



imported from the Old World, It belongs to the great tribe 

 of the Euphorbise or Spurges, of which our common milky- 

 weed is a familiar example. 



From its seeds is obtained the Castor-oil of commerce. The 

 best, called ' cold-drawn' oil, is procured by simple pressure, 

 The plant is sometimes called Palma Christi, because its 

 leaves look something like widely-spread fingers. 



The Romans gave it the name of Ricinus, because the seeds 

 bear some resemblance in shape to sheep ticks or ' ricini.' 

 They procured it originally from Egypt, where seeds may 

 still be found in the tombs. 



Cayman {Alligator nigrer). — This is the animal which 

 Waterton so brilliantly captured. There are many of the 

 crocodiles and alligators in North and South America, and 

 in habits they seem to be much alike. 



All have the peculiar way of attacking animals on land by 

 knocking them into the water with a blow of the tail, and 



carrying them off before they can recover from the effects of 

 the blow. Sometimes they have been known to attack canoes 

 in this manner. 



They all possess a most abominable musky smell, " floating," 

 as Mr. 0. B. Brown says, " like a deadly miasma round our 

 camp, and finding its way even to our palates." Then, all of 

 them are in the habit of emitting loud, bellowing noises, 

 especially at night, so that they make themselves as objection- 

 able to the ears as to the nostrils. 



