The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1889-06-06

time. finally settled on tho top Of the
tree. when the branches began to
awaken. as It were. and 10 curl up
ward. They twisted and twisted like
snakes about the bird, which began to
scream, and drew It down In their
fearful embrace until ! lost sight Of It
Horror-stricken. seized the nearest
rock In an attempt TO climb the knob. 1
had so often tried in vain to do this that
Twas not surprised when / fell back, but
the rock was loosened and fell also. IL
narrowly missed me, but sprung up
unhurt, and saw that the fallen rock
had left considerable cavity. put
my face 10 1t and looked in. Some
thing like cavern, the floor OF which
had an upward tendency. met my
sight. and / felt current OF fresh air
blowing on me. with a dry. earthly
smell. Evidently there was another
opening somewhere, undoubtedly mt
the summit. Using my trowel, which
] always carried on my botanizing ex-
peditions, | enlarged the hole. and
then pushed my way up through the
passage. When had nearly reached
the top ! looked out cautiously TO see
II ] should emerge within reach OF
that diabolical tree But | found II
nowhere near the aperture, so Isprung
out Twas just in time to see the fiat
tened carcass OF the bird fall TO tho
ground. which was covered with bones
and feathers. approached as close
ly as / dared and examined the
tree. II was low in size. not
more than twenty feet high. but
covering great area. Its trunk was
OF prodigious thickness. knotted and
scaly. From the top Of this trunk, u
few feet from the ground, its Shiny
branches curved upward and down
ward. nearly touching the ground with
their tapering tips Its appearance
was that OF gigantic tarantula await
ing its prey. On my yenturing to
lightly touch one OF the limbs. IL closed |
upon my hand with such force that |
when ] tore 1t loose the skin came
with it | descended then, and clos
ing the passage returned home. | |
went back next day carrying half
dozen chickens with which 10 feed the |
tree. The moment tossed II the
fowls, a violent agitation shook its
which swayed TO and fro |
with a sinuous, snaky motion. After
devouring the fowls, these branches,
fully gorged, dropped 10 their former
position, and the tree, giving no signs
Of animation. | dared 20 approach II
and take the limbs in my hand.
They were covered with suckers. re-
,embling the tentaclesof an octopus.
The blood OF the fowls had been alb
'orbed by these suckers, leaving Grim
ION stains on the. dark surface. There
vas no foliage OF course. OF any kind.
speaking Of my discovery to
my one about, | wrote an account OF it
o the world-famous botanist Prof.
OF the University OF /
His reply states that my
rec Is the arbor diaboli. only two
peclmens OF winch nave ever been
on the peak Of the Hima-
ayas and the other on the island Of
Mine is the third Prof
says that the arbor
Iiaboli and tho plant known rs the
'enus ay-trap are the only known
peoimens, growing on the land. OF
hose forms OF life which partake Of i
he nature OF both animal and vege- {
able Kingdoms, although there are in
tances too numerous TO mention fouad
( this class in the sea ThePortugese !
may be mentioned how
yer. rs one, and the sponge as the /
est known specimen Of this class. =
'hihuahua (Mex.) Cor. Globe-Demo-
rat