28S THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. 



latter, higher, in neither case reaching you; the angle of 

 reflection being always the same as that of incidence. The 

 number of syllables returned depends on the time occupied 

 in pronouncing them, and the distance ; varying, however, 

 to some extent, from the state of the atmosphere. 



C. — What flowers are these, growing in this marshy 

 place beside the road ? 



F. — The first is called the Snake-head (Chelone Glabra J^ 

 from a fancied resemblance which the flower bears to the head 

 of a snake or a tortoise. It is a large and handsome labiate 

 flower, and the number of white blossoms, growing in a tall 

 spike, something resembling the Foxglove, gives it a striking 



appearance. Here is another plant peculiar to wet 



soils, being found chiefly in marshes, and at the edges of brooks 

 and ponds. It is called Wild Chocolate (Geum RimleJ, 

 from a supposed resemblance of the roots to that substance 

 in taste. The root is long, horizontal, and somewhat thick 

 and solid ; it is of a purplish red colour externally ; has an 

 aromatic flavour ; and, being astringent, is often dug up, 

 washed, and boiled, for the relief of diarrhoea, a complaint 

 to which strangers coming hither are subject for some time. 

 The decoction I have proved to be efficacious, and it is not 

 an unpleasant drink. The flowers are not conspicuous for 

 beauty, of a dull reddish brown ; but the seeds are very 

 curious, being terminated by a bent hooked tail or awn, 

 which, as well as the receptacle and most of the plant, is 



hairy. The Choke Cherry (Primus Serotina) is 



ripe : here is a bush on .which the fruit is abundant ; taste 

 it. 



C — It is sweet and pleasant ; but so very astringent 

 that it well deserves its name of choke cherry ; it dries the 

 mouth and throat like the cones of the spruce or oak galls. 

 The glossy scarlet fruit is very beautiful. 



F, — In yonder patches of Indian Wickup (Epilobium 



