New-York tribune., 1889-12-24
4 RLOOD.STCKING PLANT.

From The Atlanta Constitutions New Orleans dispatch.
Leroy Dunstan the well-known naturalist OF this
city, VINO has recently returned from Central America.
where he had spent nearly two years In the study OF
the fora and fauna of the country, relates the finding
OF singular growth in one OF the swamps which sur
round the great lake OF NlcaraBus
lie engaged in hunting for botanical and
chronological specimens In this swamp, which Is
known as san sebasan's, when lie heard his dog cry
out, if In agony, from distance. Running to the
spot from which the animaPS cries came Mr.. Dunstai
found him enveloped In a perfect network OF what
seemed to be fine, ropclke tissue OF roots or hbres.
the nature of which was unknown to him.
The plant vino seemed composed entirely OF bare,
mterlacing stems resembling more than anything else
the branches of the weeping willow denuded OF al
foliage but of dark, nearly black hue, and covered
with a thick, vscid gum that exuded from the pores
Drawing his knife Mr.. Dunstan endeavored to cut the
animal free but Ii only with the greatest dhculty
that he succeeded In severlng the feshy, muscular
fibre To his horror and amaZement the naturalist
then saw that the dogs body was covered WIN niO9n,
sucked puckered in spots and the animal staggered
If from weakness and exhaustion. o, IN. ,,,nc
In cutting the vino the twlgs curled like lVihg'
smuOus fingers about Mr.. Dunstans hand, ana IL re-
qulred no slight force TO free the me me1ef IRON S
The gum eXuding from the vine was OF gfaylsh
dark tnge, remarkably adhesive and OF dsagreeape
animal OdOr very powerful and nauScatng 10 lnllae
The native servants who accompanied MIR. Danstan
manifested the greatest horror OF the vine which they
call Ia sagenas de diabe, the DEVILS selne snare,
and were ful of stories OF its death dealing powers.
one of these stories was OF an Engllshman residing
years ago, lay down beneath a Tree where a large
and powerful specimen OF this singular plant was
hnd himself enyeloped In its web, and In spite of
every effort made to extrieate him. perlshed In its
deathly embrace. , , -, T., j,
hidden I'm the swamp, and whose bones had been
found In the folds of the sagenas only short time
before Mr. Dunstans visit. These stories, remarkable
As they seem are firmly believed In by the people,
but the onIy three specimens which Mr.. Dunstan was
able to find were all small ones though the meshes
OF fhe largest would probably, II extended In straight
line measure nearly II not quite, hundred feet.
lie was able TO discover very lttle about the nature
~ tbc nlnnt owing TO the difficulty Of handling It. for
its crasp can only torn away with loss Of skin and
ey,en 81 oesh INIT SO near Mr.. Dunstan could
certain its power OF suction Is contained In number
OF Innnitesimal mouths or httlc suckers which,
ordinarily closed open for the reception OF food.
'rhe r,,m exuded 10 servo the twofOld purpose
~ increasing its tenaclty and OF overcoming victim
bv its ssicxening odor The plant Is found only In
Low wet pnces and usually beneath large tree.
and while dormant seems only network OF dry, dead
vines covering the black earth for several feet but
coming into contact with anything win instantly begin
10 twist and twIne upward In horrible lfcike man
ner brealdng out with the gum like substance spOhen
of before and enwrap the object with a celerty that
is almost incredible ,,
and the cnrraSs or refuse then dropped A lump Of
raw meat being thrown II, In the short time OF five
minutes the blood win be thoroughly drunk on and
the thrown aside. Its voIaclty Is almost be-