s bore branches only far above the surrounding woods,
laden with bunches of alien foliage,--parasites like the mistletoe.
Indeed, this forest seemed like vegetation running riot; and with its
clumps of abnormal foliage, fixed like storks' nests in the tops of the
trees, it recalled similar effects seen on the banks of the St. John's
River in Florida.

Midway in these almost impenetrable woods, where the soil was literally
smothered by vegetation and a wilderness of undergrowth, we came upon a
lonely cottage, with a large barn and some outbuildings attached, which
had been established by the owner of the stage line; and here our four
jaded horses were changed for fresh ones.

At this isolated spot we saw a remarkably handsome boy between six and
seven years of age, large and well-formed for one of his years, wearing
only a blouse reaching to his knees,--otherwise being entirely without
clothing. It was instantly apparent that he was mentally deficient, and
his eccentric gambols caused us to make further inquiries. It seems that
his mother, an intelligent Englishwoman, four or five months before the
boy was born had been so terribly frightened by a furious bull as to
throw her into convulsions, from which she was with difficulty restored.
The eccentricities of the child began to exhibit themselves as soon as
he had reached a twelvemonth, and from that period his actions became
more animal than human. He cares only for vegetable food, living mostly
on potatoes. The use of the knife and fork he utterly ignores, taking
his food from the plate with his mouth, not using his hands. He smells
of every new thing or person when first presented to his notice. He will
not abide clothing beyond the blouse already spoken of, and when he is
restrained in any purpose butts with his forehead like a bull. The boy
has never uttered any words distinctly, though he makes half-articulate
sounds of assent and negation. Sometimes he walks about with his head
extended before him, mooing like a bovine, and on such occasions he
takes no notice of any words addressed to him or any attempt to divert
him. He is quite mischievous, but not viciously so; it is necessary to
keep wire screens over the glass windows, which he would otherwise put
his head through when he desired to get into the open air. He was
running about the space before the house and roadway when we saw him,
and submitted to our kindly caress, even uttering sympathetic sounds in
respo