THE NATURALIST.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1247, 23 January 1896, Page 38

THE NATURALIST.

THE DEATH PLANT OF SOOTH AFRICA* H. B. M. Buchanan. The full African sun, from a Bky of the hardest blue, poured down its fierce rays ou the sandy plains beneath, which, already overcharged with heat, reflected them back from its yellowish surface, till the air felt like solid iron bands of heat. From the horizon came bounding along a herd of the jetel or hartebeest antelope, with their beautiful red chestnut skins giistening in the declining sun like the coats of well-groomed English hunters. Rapidly approaching, they stopped by a patch of nabbuk bushes to eat of the small fruit, which, like miniature apples about the sise of nutmegs, had fallen in large quantities to the ground. The leader of the herd mounted a white ant-hill to keep faithful watch over his flock against any approaching danger. Amidst some tall grasses, that lay between the forest and the nabbuk bushes, a lion awoke from his midda3 r sleep; he stretched himself lazily, first with one paw, then with the other, and, with eyes dull from sleep, surveyed leisurely the plain before him. Suddenly he spied the herd of antelopes feeding on the fruit of the nabbuk bushes. At once the loosened muscles became firm, and drawn out like whipcord, the head rigid and attentive, the bod 3 crouched close to the ground, the eyes fixed, bright and cruel : the tufted tail, quivering with emotion, moved slowly from side to side. Softly and slowW he began to move amidst the grass that lay between him and the nabbuk hushes; one clumsy shake of the grasses above nim. or the slightest exposure of his body would have given the alarm to the watchful leader of the antelope herd, and a few moments would have seen them disappear on the clear-cut horizon. Moving forward a few paces, with every step considered ; then pausing, as if resting from the tension that this cautious approach caused him, the great beast crept on.

The lion at last came to the edge of grass, a long space separating him from the nearest antelope. Could he spring the distance, or would he fall short, and slink away, ashamed of his failure ? He paused for a few seconds to collect together all his strength for the final leap ; the bodv crouched close to the ground, and bent backwards well over the hind hocks, the head firm and raised, the claws sent into the ground for a better grip, the bod3 r oscillating backwards and forwards a few times, and then with a great roar the tawny lion sprang. He had measured his strength rightly ; one great paw came down with sledgehammer violence on the beautiful head of the nearest antelope. V. ith growls and kind purrings the great beast began his work of destruction. now and then, as the lion lay across the mangled bod3 r of his victim, he would pause and look around, but with no fear in his look. And so he fed without dread.

As the sun was about to set. a refreshing breeze came whispering from the forest over the sandy plain towards this strange mystery of life and death. Gaining iu strength, it drove slowly ou the fruit of the grapple plant, whose formidable-looking hooks were awaiting to attach themselves to any passerby, so that it might be conveyed to some spot where the seed contained within the array of hooks might find suitable lodgment for growth. Hounding themselves into balls, sometimes travelling faster, sometimes slower, sometimes stopping altogether, according to the varying strength of the soothing, refreshing breeze, on they came, dry, roundish balls, innocent-looking enough, and apparently not likety to do harm to anything. At last one lazily rolled under the hindquarters of the lion as he lay occupied with his victim, and unrolling itself, the hooks veiy slowly got hold of his tawny quarters, at first so geutl3 r that the lion fed on unheeding. As the hooks got a firmer hold, thc3* began to curl and creep into his ilesh, until a sudden grip revealed to the iion that something une-anl was upon his quarters. With a tie., p growl he lilted himself off the carcase of the deer to examine the source of his amiojmnce. At first to tried to brush off the fecit- with a front paw, but the hooks had now got a firm hold, and were not to be easily moved. After repeated efforts he desisted, and smelt it with Iris nose, not understanding what it was, or why it was there. The hooks gradually tightening their hold

were now giving the lion considerable pain, which caused him to lose in’s composure somewhat, and with deep, atu>ry growls he worked till the harder with his front paws to remove the tenacious fruit. But the more he did so, the firmer it clung, and the worse grew the pain, till, driven to desperation, he seized the fruit in his mouth and tried to tear it away from its lodgment. But the fruit remained firm. Agonized with pain, he now lost ids majestic self-control, and with savage muttering.-; tore away with ail his strength. At last the tenacious fruit gave way into the iionhi month, but. still obedient to it.' nature, it wound its sharp prongs into the tongue, roof, ami throat of the distracted and maddened beast. Then the dreadful death agony oegan. Growling, moaning, blinded with pain,' the noble head jerking rapidly from side to side, the mane flying about in alter confusion, the mouth wide open. Bolling on the ground, standing up, rolling again, running round and round, standing still, lifting his head high up in the air, burying it in the sands ; tearing at his | mouth with his claws, the weary death struggle went on. At last the fight against fate grad ually ceased, the convulsions and tv/itchings grew less and less violent, till perfect stillness stole over that habitation of strength and endurance. The pale light of the African

*Tlie grapple plant (Harpagophytum) is a prostrate herb growing in South Africa. Its flowers are purple, and in shape like the English foxglove. Its fruit has very formidable hooks, which, by clinging to any passerby, is conveyed to situations where its seeds may find suitable conditions for growth. The principle is illustrated by the burrs of the English burdock. Sir John Lubbock says it has been known to kill lions.

moon shone forth from a clear sky, dotted with innumerable stars. Its gentle beams fell upon the strange tragedy, embracing with its calm light the mangled antelope* the choked lion, the buried seed. —The 1 Argosy. j