Mosholxi and Low^erre 163 



medicine, and is thus used by the Indians and other 

 superstitious folk. 



Colonies of Brake and Clayton's Fern grew in the 

 hollows on the hill, and about the stagnant pools 

 northward. We wandered up and down the slopes 

 with eyes bent upon the ground, carefully pacing be- 

 tween the vines, searching for the Golden Moccasin- 

 Flowers. Most of the buds still were folded within the 

 sepals, although we found a few that were showing 

 their golden tips and carmine lacing-petals. In the 

 swamps beyond, we gathered a dozen Nodding Wake- 

 Robins (^Trillium cernuum). This species is not so 

 gaudy as the Painted Trillium, being of a delicate rose- 

 pink, and often pure white. 



Later in the week, while exploring to the east be- 

 yond the lane toward Mount Vernon, I ran upon a 

 select group of Cypripedium parvifloj'um, many stems 

 of which bore two blossoms. This colony grew be- 

 neath pines, cedars, thorns, and dogwood trees. The 

 soil was rich and dry, and the leaves, for the most part, 

 were blown off the bare black soil. I counted a hun- 

 dred plants— evidently seedlings — besides the ones in 

 bloom. Some were at least three or four years old ; 

 others were of only one or two seasons' growth. The 

 smallest plants were but a few months old. I had 

 never found so many natural seedlings of Cypripedium 

 before. 



We journeyed homeward through Putnam Valley to 

 Mosholu, passing Van Courtlandt Mansion. Near 

 Cold Spring, along the borders of the Golf Links, we 



