58 NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



at their height. I found them at one point skirting the 

 wet woods; in another they grew in the swampy portions of 

 the meadows, giving a glorious effect to the plant groups 

 there gathered. Here I saw the black butterfly, Papilio troi- 

 lus, as shown in illustration on page 57, flitting down upon 

 these blossoms, dividing its time, one moment here and the 

 next moment on the boneset. I have just observed this 

 exquisite swallow-tail as it flits away, to be suddenly replaced 

 by the allied species, philenor. In its turn comes the dashing 

 little ruby-throated humming-l)ird that especially loves to 

 delve in these blossoms, while keeping company beside it is 

 the bumblebee, Bombus amcricanorum, which sometimes illegiti- 

 mately steals the nectar through tiie slit. 



On viewing these brilliant cardinal flowers, one is reminded 

 of Robertson's remarks concerning them: "The pendent lip 

 shows that the flower is intended to be visited by a bird or 

 insect which is in the habit of sucking the sweets from flowers 

 without resting upon them." ^ What a suggestion in the 

 phil()S(){)hy of the flowering seasons lies here; the procession 

 of the flowers being timed to the appearance of this bird as 

 well as tlie l)ees. But I have already touched upon this topic 

 more at length in the part on Bird Flowers. 



At this time the pods of the large, common milkweed are 

 well develoi)ed, while the flowers are getting scarce. The 

 white blossoms of the wild carrot are presenting their exquisite 

 heads; they spring up in the mowed fields, breaking the 

 monotony of the wide, open stretches. The bugle-weed, like 

 the boneset, now thrives luxuriantly, .seemingly competing 

 with the goldenrod in suitable places. 



Blight among the leaves of plants, parasitic invasion, and 

 the many ragged leaves from the attacks of developing larvae 

 or hungry grasshoppers, bring on a noticeable change; withering 

 and senescence show their effect on the one hand, while on 

 the other hand new life springs into existence. 



The flowers of the button bush have entirely disappeared; 

 the green seed balls now hang from the bushes. With the 

 dropping of the white flowers there passed a beautiful scene 

 of insect activity about the.se perfumed heads. Peering out 



^Botanical Gazette. Vol. XVI. 1891. 



