OUR MOCCASIN FLOWERS AT HOME. 85 



band, or the rolling of a gable rope." The Habcnarias are for 

 this reason known as the rein orchises. Several tall green spikes 

 of this group now appear along the brooksides in the swamplands. 



About the open places bordering springs we discover the tall 

 white northern orchis (Habcnaria dilatata), rarely appreciated 

 save by the flies and moths which are attracted by its rich per- 

 fume. A little later in meadows, gracing lakeside solitudes and 

 sluggish streams bloom the gorgeous purple-fringed orchises ( Ha- 

 benaria psycodcs) and (Habcnaria grajidiflora). One may live a 

 lifetime in the hills and never behold these beautiful fringed blos- 

 soms of the meadows. They are similar to the long purples and 

 dead men's fingers v/hich grow along the damp borders of the 

 corn-fields in England (Fig. 15). 



Various species of the orchid family dwell in the open meadows, 

 such as Arcfhiisa, the beautiful nymph of the fountain; and thou- 

 sands of Pcgoiiia and Liiiiodoniiii dance and wave among the 

 sedges. Approaching the laiid niargins the tamaracks grow 

 larger, and on the higher mounds of moss beneath the pines, 

 innumerable plants of the pink moccasin-flowers flourish, inter- 

 laced with the evergreen vines of the wolf's claw (Lycopod'ni)n) . 

 Stray plants of Loesel's twayblade {Lcptorchis LocscUi), the tall 

 white northern orchis, and the small bog-orchis here live in peace 

 and unity. 



Closing in about the land margin are the larger tamaracks, 

 pines and spruces, which press upon the shrubs of the interior ; 

 beneath these the pitcher plant and the showy queen of the mocca- 

 sin-flowers are still thriving. Beyond this zone, hemlocks, maples, 

 birch, elm and chestnut are encroaching on the conifers ; while 

 far beyond all, over the hills encircling this grave of an ancient 

 lake, the cultivated corn-fields and pasturage of the herds are 

 crowding upon the whole area and in time will fill the unfathom- 

 able pool in the heart of the hills. In the slowly drained swamp. 

 Arethusa is not to be found, nor is sphagnum so frequent, but 

 many species of fern and shrubs dwell here peculiar to this area. 



The last orchids of the autumn are the fragrant ladies' tresses, 

 which come with the blue-fringed gentians and stars-of-Pamassus, 

 making the marshland of September a gorgeous wave of nodding 

 colors. 



