26 NATURAL HrSTOKY OF NORTH AMERICA, 



protected. Here it is truly " a populous solitude of bees 

 and birds," though as yet the bees are hardly out. 



I have only had time to explore the woods in one or two 

 directions. On this side of the river the woods are thickest 

 and largest. After a slight interruption I understand they 

 extend quite to Canada : they consist of Hemlock, Sugar 

 Maple, Beech, Birch, Elm, Lime, &c., with a great variety of 

 shrubs below. There are one or two large patches of Rasp- 

 berries not yet out, but which promise well for Bomhi, of which 

 some very beautiful species are coming out. The ground is 

 covered with plants, not many of which are yet in blossom. I 

 have found four species of Viola ; V. Canadensis, V. rotundi- 

 folia, and two others with which I am not acquainted. There 

 is a vast quantity of Trillium erectum and erythrocarpum, the last 

 is peculiarly beautiful ; also Uvularia grandiflora and sessilijlora, 

 Clai/tonia Virginica, and a most beautiful and fragrant Fumaria. 

 In one part of the wood is nearly an acre of Cypripedium, of a 

 species with which I am not acquainted, at least, the flower 

 not being expanded, I cannot determine it. A little Saxifraga, 

 which I think must be S. Virginieiisis, is very common on the 

 rocks. Soon there will be thousands of flowers. The ferns 

 are just coming up ; some of them are very beautiful. 



R. Foster arrived here on the 14 th. We have roamed to- 

 gether six or eight miles over the hills, but did not obtain 

 much, except a quantity of splendid Cicindela, resembling 

 C. campestris, but ten times more brilliant. It has a very 

 peculiar economy, but on this I must dilate at a future time. 

 There are Jidi here, more than three inches long, and about 

 two- thirds of an inch in circumference. I have just now been 

 to the front of the house, and a Picus CaroUnensis allowed me 

 to get within six yards of him, and he was not ten feet Irom 

 the ground. I have seen a pair of Migratory Pigeons, and 

 some large Hawks. 



Trenton Falls, QthJune. — Here I am still, at this sweet place, 

 in good health, in good spirits, plenty of insects to catch, of 

 birds to watch, of flowers to admire, and of books to read ; 

 and, besides R. Foster, a couple of most intelligent persons to 

 converse with. I love the Americans, they are so truly kind- 

 hearted, warm, and generous, and so constantly ready to assist 

 a stranger. 



