Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-05-30
loOd-Sucking Tree.
o a Gigantic Tarantula' and Feeds
on Birds.
worry Of A Third specimen OF the
Carnivorous Arbor Diaboll-
IFS Terrible Powers.

anu n,ri,as as fohow5 to the ST. Louis
RSInha. Democrat about singular dlscov
80 which he recently mdde;
Loys taken much interest in the study
- botany during my sojourn in this
3 s.r,,trv The fl 1ra of which presents ons
10 ,ichest fields for the scientist in
i ~. ,-orl3 and have wandered some dis
,oroa from town on several occasions IN
NV search for specimens.
~, one of these expeditions | noticed
q dark object on one OF the outlying
4 s,nrs Of the Sterre Medre mountains,
vb,eb object excited my curiosity so
rncb that l examined 1t carefully
through my field glass. This revealed
that the object was a tree or shrub OF
such an unusual appearance that l re
solved to visit the spot.
ride M to the mountain, the sides of
which slopsd 8 Efficiently for me to make
INV way on horseback TO within few rods
Of the summit. But here | was stopped
Inv an abrupt rise so steep that | despair
ed of reaching it even on foot
went around it several times seeking
for come way to climb up, but the Jagged
beetiuy rocks afforded not the slightest
foothold. On the top of this knob stands
the tree ] had seen.
From the spot on which | now stood L
could see that it somewhat resembled in
4 form the weeping willow, but the long,
4 drooping, whip-like limbs we're of dark
and apparently slimsy appearances, and
seemed possessed of l. horrible life-like
power OF coiling and unooiliRg. Occa
siously the whole tree would seem a
writhing, squirming mass.
My desire to Investigate this strange
vegetable product increased on cash of the
many expeditions mad to the spot, and
at last saw a light one day which made
me believe [ had discovered an unheard-
Of thing.
A bird, which l had watched circl ng
about for some time, finally settled on
the top of the tree, when the branches
began 10 awaken, as it were, and to curl
upward.
They tvined and twisted like snakes
about the bird, which began to scream,
AID drew it down in their fearful EN-
brace until lost sight of 1t.
Horror-stricken, | seized the nearest
rock In an attempt to climb the knob. !
had SO often tried in vain to dc this that
| vas not surpised when 1 fell back, but
the rock VAS loosen6d and fell also.
70 narrowly missed me, but | sprang
no ulhurt, and saw that the fallen rock
lad left a considerable cavity. | put ray
face 10 j. and looked in. Something like
a cavern, the floor of which had an upward
tendency, met nay sigh, and felt cur
rent OF fresh sir blowing on me, with a
cry earthly smell.
Evidently there was another opening
somewhere, undoubtedly at the summit.
Using my trowel, which [ always car
riri on my botauizing expeditions, | en-
larged the mole, and then pushed my way
up through the passage.
When / had nearly reached tholtop3I
looked ont cautiously to see if | should
emerge within reach of that diabolioal
tree. But [ found Is nophere near the
aperture, so I sprang out.
was Just In time TO see the hattoned
CARCASS Of the bird drop to the ground,
which was covered with bones and feath
ers. approached as closely as | dared
and examined the tree.
IL was low in size, not more than twenty
feet high, bat covering a thick area. It's
trunk was of prodigious thickness, knott
ed and scaly
From the top of this trunk few feet
from the GROUND, its shiny branches
curved upEard and downward, nearly
touching the ground with their vapering
tips
IT'S appearance was that of gigantic
tarantula awaiting its prey.
90 my yenturing to lightly touch one
OF the limbs, il closed upon my hand
with such forcs that when l tore it loose
'he skin came with it. / DESCENDED then
and closing the passage returned home.
went back next day, carrying half g
dozen chickens with which to feed the
tree.
me moment l tossed in the fowls vio-
lent agitation shook its branches, which
7"'yed to and tt) wi Ia a sinuous, shaky
motion.
After deyouring the fowls, these
branches, fully gorged, dropped to their
l"ll'.7 position, and, the tree giving no
s'sl OF animation, I dared approach il
aug ."Ae ne limbs in my hand.
4n'! were covered with suckers, re-
sIo'iug tine teutacles of an octopus
oiood of the fowls had been absorbed
ID! lne-e -uckers, leaving crimson stains
o. the dark surface.
mere was no foliage, of course, of any
A'la' Nithou' king of my discovery
70 any one about, l wrote an account OF
J, 10 the world famous botanist, Professor
e0e-g Icy y ~
h- reply Estates that my tree is the
A.''F Dlaboli, only two specimens oi
which have ever been known one on
P-aa of the Hiualayas and tho oihe-
tt,-i. d. "ine - Tue
nF.'5. "ordenhaupt says that the Arbor
.'' and the plant known As Venus
arg the only known specimens.
'~.As on the land, Of those forms OF
'a'ch partake Of the nature OF
Wv .-e animal aud vegetable kingdoms.
-.'sa there are instances too nuner-
mention found of this class in the
ia- Portuguese mau-of-war may be
.al.d, hoeever, as one, and the
the best known specimen OF
abFicETOA YOUNG MAN.
"5a Let Some Less Sensible Fellow