Animals: Birdcatcher

Pisonia Branonia is a New Zealand tree which Maoris call “The Birdcatcher.” Its seeds grow in clusters covered with heavy gum. When small birds fly into the tree, their feathers are caught by the sticky seed pods. The more they struggle, the tighter they get gummed up. A resident of New Plymouth, N. Z., named J. Wheeler has a birdcatcher tree which has trapped hundreds of small birds. Last week it killed its largest victim, a brown owl which natives call the rum. Englishmen the Morepork.