Mount Carmel, Connecticut 133 



to Theophrastus, and named Mentha, from a nymph 

 fabled in classical literature as having been changed 

 into this plant by the jealous Proserpine. 



Yale was delighted with the Herbe de Chat, and 

 scented spring and the cat's heal-all indeed in these 

 tender sprays, rolling and purring over the leaves like 

 a tiger, until at last, soothed, he fell a-napping. 



The next morning, May 2d, I started for the Berk- 

 shire Highlands, where I arrived in the afternoon. I 

 remained on Aurora's Hill in North Adams about a 

 week. I was too early for orchid flowers, and the ar- 

 butus was still in bloom. These were the real arbutus 

 days here, in spite of their breaking the record now 

 and then by blooming in February. I soon left the 

 slopes of North Adams for Pownal Hills. I found 

 them bleak and cold, and that here, too, I was ahead 

 of all species of the Orchid Family. 



I made several excursions to the heart of Rattlesnake 

 Swamp and Rattlesnake Ledge, between May 7th and 

 15th, searching for Trailing Arbutus. I courted the 

 Swamp of Oracles and the Glen of Comus, watching 

 the buds unfold. The woods were bare and leafless, 

 the paths and dry-brook beds were flooded with sun- 

 shine. There is a desolate expression to these deep 

 swamps in early spring, before the tender green leaves 

 of trees and budding flowers burst forth. The birds, 

 however, are here, and their song tells us that it is 

 spring instead of the Indian summer of late autumn. 

 These awakening days of the sleeping woodlands re- 

 minded one of the death of the flowers in November. 



