THE BEAN AND MIMOSA FAMILY. 431 



Ormosia dasycarpa. A tree, native of Brazil and other 

 parts of tropical America, also of the West Indies. It has hard 

 red polished seeds, with a black eye, which are used for 

 making necklaces, &c. 



Crab's eyes (Abrus precatorius). A slender, twining 

 winged-leaved plant, originally a native of the East, but long 

 naturalized in the West Indies and other parts. It has a 

 small pea-like seed similar to, and used for, the same purpose 

 as the preceding. 



Guilandina Bonduc and G. Bonducella. Climbing, prickly 

 shrubs, found near the coast in most countries within the 

 Tropics. They have a thin-shelled, prickly pod, containing 

 seeds about the size of nuts, of a beautiful yellow and grey 

 colour, so hard that they resist the force of an ordinary ham- 

 mer, and appear more like pebble stones than seeds. They 

 are also used for bracelets, necklaces, &c. 



Ordeal or Calabar Bean {Physostigm.a venenatuin). A 

 strong climbing plant, with leaves and flowers similar to the 

 Scarlet Eunner or DoUchos, but having a permanent woody 

 stem 2 inches in diameter, and of great height. The pods are 

 about 6 or 7 inches in length, and contain several seeds of a 

 kidney shape, about an inch in length, of a dark chocolate 

 brown colour, approaching black ; they are highly poisonous. 

 It is a native of Old Calabar, and is there used as a test for 

 witchcraft. It is found to act powerfully in diseases of the 

 eye. It was much imported, but in 1864 the supply was 

 greater than the demand, in consequence of which, at Liver- 

 pool, a quantity was thrown away with the sweepings of the 

 ship. The seeds were found and eaten by children, and 

 proved fatal to several. 



Cow-itch (Mucuna pruriens). This and other allied 

 species, are natives of Tropical countries. It is a climbing 

 plant, like the Scarlet Runner, and takes the name Cow-itch 

 from its broad pod being densely coverered with small hairs, 

 which, on being touched, or even shaken, spread over the 

 body, and produce intolerable itching, well known to many 

 travellers, and to those who incautiously handle the pods, or 



