Plants seen about the Region of the Notch. 537 



ticular regard. But would you remind yourself of the dried 

 date of commerce, try the ripened and black berries of the 

 Fiburnum lantanoides, also called Hobble bush, and even 

 American Wayfaring tree, by some casual and happy appo- 

 siteness to the noble Wayfaring tree of the desert, doubtless, 

 the Date palm, whose grateful shade is hailed alike by man 

 and beast. So much then for a name, whose similitude 

 involuntarily points to a common taste or flavor in fruits so 

 dissimilar! Should there be any merit in this discovery 

 through an etymological relation, I shall lay claim to it my- 

 self! It would be well could truth speak as highly of all 

 sorts of wild berries ; an acquaintance with which exhibits 

 too clearly the folly of such ideality. 



Some beautiful ferns appeared also in our exploration, of 

 which Polypodium phegopteris, (L.,) Dryopteris thelypteris 

 and Dryopteris dilatata may be mentioned. Here also grew 

 the characteristic Carex scabrata, springing up among the wet 

 mossy rocks and within reach of the spray. 



It was at this point, and within full view of the dashing 

 waterfall, whose contour was that of some rich snowy feather, 

 with its fleecy top bent upward, as if, inverted, it had struck 

 against the stratum of rock, — a great white ostrich plume, — • 

 and with a deep basin of the most crystal water at its foot, 

 that we discussed what frugal store constituted our repast. 

 A mighty block of stone, loosened, doubtless, from above, 

 rose far above us, in the shade of which we bivouacked, and 

 on whose surface I was so fortunate as to find a new species 

 of Endocarpon. So beautiful a scene, so mild a spot, so 

 charming a cascade needed some better name, and by ac- 

 clamation we called it Bemis' Fall, in commemoration of 

 which, should you ever go there, you may find, if you please, 

 the letter B engraved upon the massive erratic block of stone 

 just mentioned ; and facing you as you ascend, you may see 

 the lithe, smooth, silver trunk of the Canoe birch, seemingly 

 supporting the rock, which has aff'orded it protection. 



The protean forms of fungi had already appeared in the 

 woods, indicators of advancing autumn. Many of these I 

 noticed on our return ; the rapid character of which, as the 



VOL. XVIII. NO. XII. 68 



