JULY. 2.33 



F. — The genus Buprestis is remarkable for the general 

 beauty of its species ; most of them being characterized by a 

 metallic brilliancy of colour. We have several species here. 

 I have lately observed two species of Coccinella, which I 

 have seen in Newfoundland, but which appear to be scarce 

 here ; one is the beautiful Scarlet Ladybird, ( Coccinella 

 S-notata f ) ^0 very common there ; the other is the Banded 

 Ladybird. (Coccinella f ) 



C. — The Wild Raspberry (Rubus Ideus) has been in 

 blossom about a week ; and on some bushes I perceive the 

 fruit is beginning to form. The Wild Strawberry (Fragaria 

 Virginiana) is ripe, and quite abundant : it is of a pleasant 

 flavQur, but far inferior in size to the cultivated species. 

 Here is a rather handsome plant ; do you know its name ? 



F. — It is commonly called the Poke, and its root is con- 

 sidered by the common people as poisonous. Its botanical 

 appellation is Veratrum Viride, It has not the slightest re- 

 semblance to the plant called Poke in the south (Phytolacca 

 Decandria), This plant resembles some of the large liliaceous 

 plants ; it dies to the root every year, and in the spring sends 

 up a large bulb of broad^ lance-oval leaves sheathing each 

 other : the leaves have deep plaits running their whole 

 lengthj like a half-closed fan. From the centre shoots a 

 stalk sometimes three feet high, bearing a spike of small 

 plain greenish flowers at the top ; as you see, for it is now in 

 blossom : these are succeeded by dry seed vessels, which 

 open and drop their seeds. The plant is most common in 

 the black swampy earth of the evergreen woods, and does 

 not often grow in clearings, except by the side of pools of 

 water in low grounds, as here. The flowers have no beauty, 

 but the large leaves give it rather a noble appearance. 



C. — What pretty little bird is that, running along with 

 such nimble feet on the bank ? 



F, — I believe it is one of the Sandpipers (probably 



