426 Bailey, Plum Island Night Herons. [bet. 



herbaceous plants and come at length to the low shrubs like sweet 

 fern, Myrica asplenifolia, and bayberry, Myrica carolinensis, both 

 of which grow plentifully here. And too, the beach plum Prunus 

 ■maritima, from which the Island receives its name, once growing 

 here abundantly now nearly extirpated by the ravages of the brown- 

 tail moth, Eiiproctis chrysorrhea: and, varying from a low shrub, 

 to a tree of from 15 to 25 feet in height, is the black cherry, Prunus 

 serotina, growing abundantly in many places all along the Island. 



On the landward or marsh side of the Island a variety of grasses 

 may be found, many acres of which are harvested each year and fed 

 to the stock on the adjacent inland farms. The low seaside ger- 

 ardia, Gerardia maritima, and heathery marsh rosemary, Limonium 

 carol in ianum, and the less abundant, but showy Canadian burnet, 

 Sangaisobra canadensis, all these and many more may be found 

 scattered over the broad expanse of the marshes, both of the Island 

 and mainland. 



One is surprised too, at the number and considerable size of the 

 trees that grow in certain of the deep bowl-like hollows between 

 the dunes. There are a fair number of such species as poplar, 

 Pupulus trcmuloides; black oak, Quercus rchttina; elm, limits 

 amcricana; tupelo, Nyssa syhatica; red maple, Acer rubrum, 

 and shad, Amelanchier canadensis, many of these in especially 

 favored places attaining a height of 35 feet or over. Toward the 

 southern end of the Island are a few thickets of grey birch, Bet id a 

 popvlifolia,and scraggy wind distorted cedars, Juniperus virginiana. 

 Not infrequently, in among the growths of trees the explorer en- 

 counters nearly impenetrable tangles of wild grape, Vitis labrusca; 

 Virginia creeper, Psedera quinquefolia; cat brier, Smila.v rotundi- 

 folia; and climbing bittersweet, Cclastrus scandeus. And poison 

 ivy, Rhus toxicodendron, grows profusely over a wide area. 



To the bird lover and the sportsman the Island and its adjacent 

 marshes hold out several alluring invitations. It has been said, 

 and with probable truth, that in years past, no place of equal extent 

 on the Massachusetts coast has been a favorite resort for more 

 wild fowl and shore birds. And up to the present time, consider- 

 ing the increasing persecution of these birds, fair flights of some of 

 the species still continue, though in recent years owing probably 

 to incessant murderous attacks made upon them, there has been, 



