A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



123 



birds of the order which live in flocks, belong to the Ca- 

 thartics genus."* 



" Look ! there are some which keep at a distance. They 

 look as if they were afraid." # 



" No ; they have gorged themselves, and are now digest- 

 ing their meal ; unless danger compel them to take flight, 

 they will remain motionless until sunset." 



" Will they attack live creatures ?" 



" Very rarely ; for they are dreadful cowards, and, be- 

 sides, do not care much for fresh meat." 



We had now left far behind us the miserable crew of 

 carrion-eaters, when Lucien suddenly cried out — 



" Oh, papa ! look, there's a bleeding tree !" 



"It is a pterocarpus; that is, a vegetable with mem- 

 branes resembling the wing of a bird. The red sap which 

 is trickling down from its bark is called drag oris blood, 

 thus named by the Greeks, who ascribed to it a fabulous 

 origin. The blood-tree, for so the Indians designate it, is 

 allied to the asparagus and lily genera, and the gum which 

 exudes from it is a good remedy for dysentery." 



L'Encuerado picked off a few dry flakes of this invalua- 

 ble production ; and then, dipping his finger into some of 

 the drops which were still liquid, he rubbed it all over Grin- 

 galet's legs and paws, who was thus provided with red top- 

 boots. As a matter of fact, this operation must have had a 

 good effect upon the animal ; for this gum, being very rich 

 in tannin, was certain to brace the tissues and muscles ; but 

 the first sensation of it seemed to distress the poor beast, 

 who ran along lifting up his legs in a very comical fashion. 



" Gringalet walks very much in the same way that l'En- 



* From the Greek Kadapryc, " that which purifies." In fact, this bird 

 assists in cleansing the streets in towns where there is no organization for 

 the purpose. 



