The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-05-19

duced from fir timber tossed along the sea- and
are at first like gum. Afterward they hang
down by their beaks, as if from sea-weed at
tached to the timber, surrounded by shells, in
order to grow more freely. Having thus, in
process of time, been clothed with strong coat
of feathers, they either fall into the water or
fly freely away into the air. They derive their
food and growth from the sap OF the wood or
the sea by secret and most wonderful process
of Authorization. have frequently. with my
own eyes, seen more than a thousand OF these
small bodies of birds, hanging down ON the sea-
shore from one piece of timber, inclosed IN
shells and already formed"
He further informs his readers that "Blsh-
ops and clergymen in some parts of Ireland do
not scruple TO dine off these birds at the time
of fasting, because they are not flesh, nor born
of flesh" In 1927 "The History and Chronicles
of Scotland" were written in Latin, by Hector
Boece, Channon of Aberdeen, and in it he ex-
presses the opinion that the worm Teredo pro-
duced a bird. Fifty years later, Gerard, of
London, reasserted this discovery, and even
showed by rude wood-cut the birds dropping
from the shells of the barnacle, asserting that
he had seen the operation. In the "Philosophi-
cal Transactions of 1877 will be found SINH
lar account from the pen of no less parsonage
than Sir Robert Moray. Sir John Vaudeville,
already mentioned was equally fortunate in
observing trees that bore living animals. In
his notes of travel he describes the "Lamb
Tree" of Cathay, and says, in chapter which
treats "Of the Countries and Yes that ben be-
yonde the Land of Cathay: and of the Frutes
there" &C., relates that in Cathay "there
growethe manner of fruyt as thoughe it were
Gourdes; and whan thei ben rype men kutten
| [cut) hem to them in two, and men fynden
withinne lyttylle Best [Deast] in Flesche in
Bon and Blode bone and blood as though IL
were lytylle Lomb [lamb) with outen wolfe
| without wool And men eaten both the Fruit
| and the Best; and that" says Sir John, rs
| great marveylle. OF that fruyt," he continues,
| 81 have eten, allie thoughe iG were wondir-
| fulle.''
| Few names are better known throughout
| This country and Europe than that of Prof.
| Max Miller one of the leading scientific work
1 ers OF the time During residence in South
| America he has collected the following facts
| concerning the appearance OF most remarka-
| bic subterranean animal, and, perhaps, what is
| equally remarkable, appearing himself to be-
| lieve in it, The name of Ibis strange creature
| is the minhocao. About eight years ago one
| appeared, according to Prof Miller, in the
neighborhood of Lagos Francisco de Amaral
Varella, when about 10 kiomerers distant
from that town, saw lying on the bank of the
Rio dos Caveiras strange animal of gigantic
| size nearly one meter in thickness, not very
long, and with a snout like pig, but whether
| it had legs or not he could not tell He did
not dare to seize it alone, and while calling his
neighbers to his assistance it vanished, not
without leaving palpable marks behind 1t in
the shape of a trench as it disappeared under
the earth. A week later similar trench, per-
maps CONSTRUCTED Dy Inc same aulIndl, Wao
| seen ON the opposite side of the Lagos, about
six kilometres distant from the former, and
the traces were followed, which ultimately led
under the roots of large pine tree, and were
lost in the marshy land. Herr +. Keeling,
from whom this information was obtained, was
at that time living as merchant IN Lagos,
and saw himself the trenches made by the
mnhocao. Herr e Oderbrecht, while survey
ing line of road from Itajahy into the high
lands of the Province of Santa Caterna, sever
al years ago, crossed broad, marshy plain
traversed by an arm of the river Maromoas
His progress here was much impeded by devil
Gus winding trenches which followed the course
of the stream and occasionally lost themselves
| in it. At the time Herr Oderbrecht could not
understand the origin of these peculiar trenches
but is now inclined to believe that they were the
work of the minhocao. About IA years ago, in
| the month of January, Antonio Jose Branco
having been absent eight days with his whole
family, from his house, which wes situated on
one of the tributaries of the Rio dos Cachorros
10 kilometres from Curitibanos, on returning
home from the road undermined, heaps OF earth
being thrown up and large trenches made.
These trenches commenced at the source OF q
brook, and followed its windings, terminating
ultimately IN morass, after course OF from
700 to 1000 metres. The breadth of the trench
es was said to be about three metres. Since
that period the brook has flowed in
the trench made by the minhocao.
The path of the animal lay generally beneath
| tn6 surface OF tU0 6drtu uuuor buo D6u VI tle
stream; several pine trees had been rooted up
by its passage. One of the trees, from which
the minhocao in passing had torn OFT the bark
and part of the wood, was said to be still stand
ing and visible last year,, Hundreds OF people
from Curitibanos and other places had come tt
see the devastation caused by this minhocoa
and supposed the animal to be still living in the
marshy pool, the waters of which appeared at
certain times to be suddenly and strangely
troubled. Indeed, on still nights rumbling
| lika distant fbupdor and q sliUb
ment of the earth was sensible in the neighbor
ing dwellings. This story was told to Prot
Miller by two witnesses-Jose son OF old Bran
co. and step-son who formerly lived in the
same house. Prof. Miller remarks that thu
appearance of the mnhocao is always supposed
to presage period of rainy weather
1t appears conclusive that in The high dis
trlct, where the Uruguay and Parana have
their sources. excavations and long trenches
81 some some lifting animal. Gemefa1fy;! hoteai
WAYS. thew apDear after continued rainy wealth
err, and seem to start from marshes or river
beds, and to enter them again. The account
as to the size and appearance OF the creat9r
are very uncertain. In any case, conclnde
Herr Miller, it would be worth whlie 70 maA'
further investigations about the minhocao, ant
| if possible to capture it for geological garde
For number of years nothing was heard Q
the minhocao, but recently white man anu
number of natives saw the monster near tn
] source of the Uruguay. They describe 1t q
{. leaving the bed of the stream, having cut
> tunnel eight or ten feet wide. AS the
came upon it it was burrowing beneat
large pine that was swaying to and fro pr'
paratory to falling. In appearance II resen
bled gigantic worm or armadillo-liks Anims
9 covered with scales and having sslnethin
Q that appeared like horns-proba b. ears
s upon its head; its length, as near as tne
4 could estimate, was 40 or so feet. I.te ditc
it had dug was filled with water from tn II
: stream. and as they fired, the monster, proD'
hlv feeling the shot that ratified on its horr
l. scales, raised its body by spasn odic effor
II hurting the tree to the ground, tearing the roo
+ from the soil, and making its csc pc In Il
70 muddy water, leaving them in te and
a. constituent at the size and power Of ne straffs
r animal There is no doubt that the 50 acc re-.
|. are given in good faith, and certainly .ange
70 cters believe in the existence OF go no fd de-
.. animal. perhaps gigantic armadiI forms
b scendant of some of the well-known y animals
ID that once wandered over the couutEy ali the
a. that have outlived time and emit race OF
n wonderful characteristics of
SO monsters.