130 BOULDER REVERIES. 



its power to see a supposed enemy a certain dis- 

 tance away, then wish it a long and useful life 

 as it moves into the shadows of the sheltering 

 bank. Such is the evolution of a naturalist in 

 his demeanor toward the kingdom of snakedom. 



I delight to lounge in the shelter of the half 

 grown white oaks which stand somewhat iso- 

 lated, each from its fellow, on the crest of this 

 gravelly woodland cliff. There are a half dozen 

 or more of them, from ten to eighteen inches in 

 diameter, with handsome, smooth gray boles and 

 low spreading branches, which extend out 

 twenty or more feet in all directions, and fur- 

 nish a plenteous shade above an inviting resting 

 place. At this season the leaves, full grown, are 

 of a pleasing grayish-green in hue, and very 

 prettily and evenly lobed. They rustle and 

 sway in the slightest breeze. Kindred of hue 

 the leaf and bark and even the soil and grass 

 which is here somewhat scant. 



In places the dark green tree moss, 31 and a 

 gray, densely tufted moss abound. The delicate 

 stems of the partridge berry spread above and 



3l Climacium americnnum Brid. 



