306 STUDIES IN THE FIELD AND FOREST. 



irregularly distributed over the wooded swamps. While 

 the barberries hang in wilted and blackened clusters 

 from their bushes in the uplands, the cranberries in the 

 peat meadows shine out like glistening rubies, from 

 their masses of delicate and tangled vinery. In the 

 open places of the woods, the earth is mantled with the 

 dark glossy green leaves of the gaultheria, half conceal 

 ing its drooping crimson berries ; and the mitchella of 

 a more curious habit, each berry being formed by the 

 united germs of two flowers, (twins upon the same 

 stem,) adorns similar places with fairer foliage and 

 brighter fruit. 



There is a sort of perpetual spring in these protected 

 arbors and recesses, where we may at all times behold 

 the springing herbs and sprouting shrubbery, when they 

 are not hidden under the snow-drift. The American hare 

 feeds upon the foliage of these tender herbs, when she 

 exposes herself at this season to the aim of the gunner. 

 She cannot so well provide for her winter wants as the 

 squirrel, whose food, contained in a husk or a nutshell, 

 may be abundantly hoarded in her subterranean gra 

 naries. The hare in her garment of fur, protected from 

 the cold, feels no fear of the climate ; and man is 

 almost the only enemy who threatens her, when she 

 comes out timidly to browse upon the scant leaves of 

 the white clover, or the heath-like foliage of the hyper- 

 icurn. 



But the charm of a winter's walk is derived chiefly 

 from the flowerless plants the ferns and lichens of the 

 rocks, the mosses of the dells and meres, and the trail 

 ing wintergreens of the shrubbery pastures. Many 

 species of these plants seem to revel in cold weather, 

 as if it were congenial to their health and wants. To 

 them has nature intrusted the care of dressing all her 



