1 66 In Touch with Nature. 



enough to act as I hold did this one to-day, they 

 need scarcely trouble themselves about possible 

 enemies before an attack is made. 



There was more upon this hill to attract a bot- 

 anist than upon those previously climbed. One 

 sprawling, prickly weed was very common, and 

 conspicuous by reason of its handsome blossoms. 

 These were snowy white, with a deep golden cen- 

 tre, and contrasted admirably with the light-green 

 leaves of the plant. Again, there were tangled 

 mats of vine-like growth, bearing numerous nar- 

 row leaves, and many a huge trumpet-shaped 

 flower, also purely white, but with a rich purple 

 throat. These, with other less conspicuous bloom, 

 relieved the monotony of bare rocks and brown 

 earth; but a far more striking feature was the 

 growth of mistletoe on the mountain-oaks. I had 

 long been familiar with this parasite on the gum- 

 trees of Southern New Jersey, and in Kentucky, 

 along the Ohio River, but nowhere does it grow 

 in greater luxuriance than in this corner of Ari- 

 zona. Nor does it seem to have the same blight- 

 ing effect that marks its progress on our Eastern 

 trees. Upon one oak, well down in the valley, I 



