The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1890-01-22
would seem writhing, squirting mass.

My desire 10 investigate this strange
vegetable product increased on each OF
the many expeditions made to the
spot, and at last saw sight one day
which made me believe / had certainly
discovered an unheard-of thing. A bird
which had watched circling about for
some time finally lit on the top of the
tree, when the branches began to awak-
en-, as it were, and to crawl upward.
They twined and twisted like snakes
about the bird, which began to scream,
and drew it down in their fearful en-
brace until lost sight Of it. Horror
stricken, seized the nearest rock in
an attempt 10 climb the knob. had
80 often tried in vain TO do this that
was not surprised when fell back, but
the rock was loosened and fell also. II
narrowly missed me, but sprang up
mn lrt, and saw that the fallen rock had
Left aconsiderable cavity. -.--
put my face to it and looked in.
Something like cavern, the floor OF
which had an upward tendency, met my
sight, and felt current of fresh air
blowing on me, with dry earthly smell.
Evidently there was another opening
somewhere, undoubtedly at the sum
nit. Using my trowell, which L always
carried on my botanizing expeditions,
enlarged the hole, and then pushed
my way up through the passage. When
had nearly reached the top / looked
out cautiously TO see if should emerge
within reach of that diabolical tree.
But / found it nowhere near the arer-
ture, 50 sprang out. was just in
time 10 see the fattened carcass of the
bird drop to the ground, which was COW
cred with bones and feathers.
approached as closely as l dared
and examined the tree. 1t 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,
few feet from the ground, its Shiny
branches curved upward and downward,
nearly touching the ground with the TIA
pering tips Its appearance was that of
gigantic tarantula awaiting its prey.
On my venturing to lightly touch one
of the limbs, it closed upon my hand
with such force that when l tore itloose
the skin came with it. 1 descende d
then, and closing the passage returned
home.
went back next day carrying half a
dozen chickens with which to feed the
tree. The moment I tossed in the fowls
violent agitation shook its branches,
which swayed to and fro with sinuous.
svhky motion. After devouring the
MRls, these branches fully gorged,
albpped TO their former position, and
w tree, giving no sign of animation,
Nared approach it and take the limbs
in}my hand. They were covered with
suckers, resembling the tentacles Of an
octopus. The blood of the fowls had
b IA absorbed by these suckers, leav-
ing crimson stains on the dark surface.
There was no foliage, of course, of any
kind.
This tree is the Arbor Diaboli, only
two specimens of which have ever been
known-one on a peak of the Himalay-
as and the other on the Island of Suma-
ira. Mine is the third. Prof. Worden-
haupt says that the Arbor Diaboli and
the plant known rs Venus Ay-trap, are
the only known specimens, growing on
the land, Of those forms of life which
partake of the nature of both the ami
NAL and vegetable kingdoms, although
there are instances too numerous to
mention, found of this class in the sea.
The Portuguese man-of-war may be men,
toned, however, as one, and the sponge
as the best known specimen.