70 THE OREGON NATURALIST. 



The nest is placed in some thick bush, often g^e had been annoyed by snakes entering 

 notveryhighfromtheground, and is construct- her greenhouse The visits from snakes 

 ed of earth and moss interlaced with twigs, and ^g^e not frequent but the knowledge that 

 hned with fine grass-stalk and hair. The fe- ^^e serpents could invade her premises 

 male la>s twice or thnce a year four to six eggs, ^^g a source of constant uneasiness to 

 of a grayish green color, covered with light her and she was anxious to obtain plants 

 brown and liver-colored spots and stripes. ^^ the Mountain Ash alluded to by Oliver 



The song of the male is melodious and con- W- Holmes in "ElsieVenner" as having 

 sists of deep sonorous passages, like those of a ^ fatal influence over Rattlesnakes, 

 nightmgale, though intermixed with others Negroes, she said,planted gourds around 

 which are rather harsh. It sings from March ^heir cabins to keep snakes away, but the 

 to the end of July, especially by mght, and in so fl^st frost killed the vines and then the 

 loud and joyous a tone as to be audible at a snakes COuld enter unchecked whenever the 

 considerable distance. Although the black weather permitted them to travel. Any 

 thrush sings at all times of the day. it is more ^ne who could furnish genuiue Mountain 

 especially in the morning and evenings that it ^sh of the kind warranted tO keep awav 

 pours forth its delighful melodies which are as ^^^j.^^ ^^^ ^.g^j^ed that he COUld find a 

 loud, rich, mellow, and much more surpassing ^^^jy ^^^^^^ f^, ^is plants. 

 in effect than those of any other song bird, ex- j^^-^^ 1^^^^ attracted a great deal of atten- 

 cepting the nightmgale, biack-cap, song thrush ^j^^ ^^l^^^g ^^e readers of the journal 

 and mocking-bird. ^^-^^^ published it and many suggestions 



Considering the great usefulness of th,s bird ^ere offered by other correspondents re- 

 as a destroyer of insect pests, I wUl illusuate garding the plant which was fatal to veno- 

 by the following anecdote: ^^^^^ Serpents. 



A grass plot attached to a country house was Qne writer stated that the plant which 

 once visited by a dozen or two black thrushes ^^^ ^^ obnoxious to snakes was the beau- 

 for several days in succession. They ploughed ^ifnl shrub,the White Ash,or White Fringe 

 It up so diligently with their bills as to make p^ie, Oiij.nanthuB urginicd. which, by 

 the surface look rough and decayed. The ^^^ ^^y, is not on ash at all although it 

 owner of the property, unwilling to shoot the belongs to the same natural order. Anoth- 

 intruders, caused the grass plot to be dug up er maintained that the plant sought was the 

 inseveralplaceswhenit was found to be over- real ^hite Ash, Fraxinua americana, 

 run with the larva, of chafers. The birds were which is a magnificent tree, attaining a 

 leftm undisturbed possession; and, ahhough height of over lOO feet. Still others insisted 

 the walls were covered with ripe fruit, they left that Dr. Holmes was right and that the 

 it for the grubs which they eflfectually destroyed, ^^^-^^^^ pj^^t ^^^ Mountain Ash, but 

 and the grass plot soon resumed it* original ^^ere was still uncertainty as to what was 

 apperance. ^^^^^ ^^ "Mountain Ash". 



The term "Merle'- IS derived from the habit of No Ash at ail, SOme one who knew in- 

 thisbirdofflyingmera, or soUtary; hence, too. farmed US, but the Pyru8 americana, 



Its generic n ame, me-ula. ^^.^^ .^ commonly called by that name. 



MOUNTAIN ASH AND , It was said to be commonly believed in 



RATTLESNAKES. ' Connecticut that this tree would drive 



BY ANgI^AINES. ^^^y '"^^"' ^"^ ^^'-"^ ^''"'J""' acuminata 

 was useful as an antidote in case of snake 



Nearly two years ago an eastern paper bites. 



of wide circulation published a letter from The most important fact brought to light 



a Mississippi lady who complained that by this discussion was that there was once 



