Sw^amp of Oracles 171 



The Columbines belong to the Crowfoot Family 

 {Ranunaclacetz), and are closely allied with sister 

 genera, including Clematis, Anemone, Hepatica, 

 Meadow Rue, False Bugbane, Buttercup, Marsh Mari- 

 gold, Goldthread, I^arkspur, Aconite, and Monks- 

 hood. These species produce plants with cut leaves, 

 as it were, resembling feet, claws, or talons of various 

 birds, animals, and fishes. 



Continuing my journey, I crossed the edges of Rab- 

 bit Plain, observing the low blue huckleberry bushes, 

 laden with green fruit, and the flaming flowers of the 

 deep pink azaleas. Through the bushes peered the 

 white schoolhouse of District Fourteen. I wandered 

 along the border of the wood just out of sight of the 

 curious gaze of the children. A cow-path led wind- 

 ingly along the shades for a quarter of a mile. Near 

 the bars above the Swamp of Oracles, I found a spike 

 of the Small Round-Leaved Orchis {Habenaria Hooker- 

 iana) in bud. I blazed a tree above it, marking the 

 spot for another day when the flowers should be in 

 blossom. Crossing the East Pownal road, I turned 

 into a hollow to the west, following along over decay- 

 ing logs and pine brush-heaps. The ground sent up a 

 rich pitch-like perfume as the sun poured down upon 

 the mossy sod. Wild lilies were abundant here, pro- 

 ducing the largest leaves I ever saw. Solomon's Seal, 

 arbutus, and wintergreen leaves {Gaultherid) were 

 creeping everywhere near the edges of the deeper 

 wood. Within the denser shades, growing among 

 pine logs and heaps of leaves, I found the Great 



