226 
The Snake»Tree, 
was all the more likely as the fallen flower-buds had not been bitten. 
A small species of the genus Glossophaga , according to the description, 
especially affects cattle. 
01)5. .What 1 noted to-day in the goats and fowls, I was able to note 
next morning on one of my people who had been similarly attacked 
during the night. The blood-soaked hammock and the visible weakness 
of the man indicated that the loss of blood lie had suffered must have been 
fairly considerable. The wound Avas on the big toe and had quite the 
triangular shape left from the bite of a leech : its edges were somewhat 
swollen. The sleeper had been just as little roused from slumber by 
the onslaught as Avere the goats, and it was from his felloAV mates that 
he first learnt that he had been unconsciously bled during the night. The 
blood still flowed fairly strong from the Avound and could only be 
staunched after a lot of trouble. It is strange that Avith men it is 
generally the toes only that the creature seems to attack. 
690. Falling into the Essequibo somewhat to the north of the 
station quarters is the small stream Ampa, on the banks of Avliicli AA r e 
found the Snake-tree, so called locally on account of the curious shape 
of its embryo. My brother had seen it on his previous journeys but had 
no more chance of examining its floAvers then than T had now, the 
opportunity for doing so being only vouchsafed to us shortly before our 
departure. As a result of this examination the tree belongs to the 
family Sapiadaceae and, on account of the striking resemblance of the 
embryo, received the name Ophiocari/on paradorum Schomb. The fruit 
consists of an almost round nut, the size of our walnuts, and on 
removing the outer shell one finds inside a membrane-covered kernel 
looking exactly like a rolled-up snake, even the head and eyes being dis- 
tinctly represented. 1 found another curiously shaped plant, the 
Ma.rillaria Ktcclii Hook, just as plentiful here with its rush-like leaves 
often 5 to 6 feet long hanging from the tree: the perfume of its brown 
spotted blossoms excels that of all other species of this family. 
697. Though surrounded by the virgin forests and meadows of 
Guiana, my thoughts last night were intent upon my native country, 
from which the sea now separated me and where I wandered still in 
spirit even to-day: for yesterday was Christmas Eve and with this 
morning’s sunrise Christmas Day had brightened up mv home. But 
what a contrast between the garniture of mv surroundings and the 
drapery worn by Nature at that gay festival of the North. There, 
probably the snow was spreading its white veil over the fallow field, 
and thousands of hearts beating with excitement were taking no notice 
of the mad gust of wind blustering through the streets and driving 
the snow before it, but were only waiting impatiently for the long longed- 
for moment when the mother was to throw open tfie room lighted with 
the Christmas tree. Here, T was sitting yesterday, until late, under the 
shade of the flowefiflg PeTcca from where T watched the setting of the 
sun, as its parting rays poured their richest summer effects over the 
land, while to-day T was sitting in front of the huge plum-pudding that 
English custom had transplanted even to these climes. Just as the 
Thuringian cannot imagine a Christmas dinner without his currant bun 
