544 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



animals of the northern and middle States, the infor- 

 mation imparted is more or less full and satisfactory; 

 but as soon as we get into the flora and fauna of the 

 Gulf States, and take up the indigenous species of that 

 region, it becomes at once plain that there are many gaps 

 in our material in collections, and a far more evident 

 lack of knowledge of the biology using that term in its 

 broadest sense of nearly all the forms of the extreme 

 southern parts of the country. Let us have an example 

 or so to illustrate this uncertainty or sometimes complete 

 lack of knowledge of our Gulf States' species. 



Stone and Cram, in "American Animals," say that the 

 Florida wood rat is said to build its nest in dense, 

 swampy thickets ; that is to say, we have no knowledge 

 or photographs of the nest of this rodent, notwithstand- 

 ing the fact that scores of non-observing "tourists" have 

 for years passed through the "swampy thickets" of this 

 particular Gulf State. To the same extent, this is true 



of not a few of 

 the fishes and 

 birds of all that 

 part of the 

 country. Of 

 such an abund- 

 ant species as 

 the "Worm 

 Lizard" of 



A FAVORITE ORCHID WIITH MANY 

 COLLECTORS 



Figure 18. We call it "Twayblade" for the reason 

 that it has but two leaves; while botanists have 

 named it Liparia liliifolio, contending that its 

 leaves resemble those of some lilies as the "lily 

 of the valley." Orchids are found in many parts 

 of Florida. 



Florida, Doctor Ditmars has not a 

 word to say in regard to its breeding 

 habits; and, indeed, we know practi- 

 cally nothing about it. Miss Mary C. 

 Dickerson, in her splendid "Frog 

 Book," is compelled to admit that 

 "nothing is on record regarding the 

 life history or habits" of the common 

 Tree Toad of the Pine Woods of 

 Florida and Texas an admission that 



A GLORIOUS GROUP OF YUCCAS IN THEIR NATIVE WILDS 



Figure 14. This species of Yucca nourishes in certain parts of Texas 

 and northern Mexico. Three of these are topped off with a grand 

 pannicle of white flowers. It is frequently found growing to a height 

 of 25 feet, and in groups. Its edible berries are relished by the Mexicans. 



applies to other batrachians de- 

 scribed in that work. Doctor 

 Howard, in the "Insect Book" of 

 this series, says of the common 

 Ant-lions that "the so-called ant- 

 lions are interesting creatures 

 which have long attracted the 

 attention of naturalists and of 

 nature students. The average 

 American country boy knows the 

 ant-lion pits in the sand about 

 as well as he knows the curious 

 caddis worms in the brooks ;" 

 and yet, while various species of 

 these are abundant in the region 

 here being considered, Doctor 

 Howard is obliged to admit, at 

 the close of his interesting chap- 

 ter about them, that "there is 

 need of careful study of any 

 one of our common ant-lions. 

 The eggs should be described; 

 the number of molts of the 

 larva should be known, and the 

 duration of the different stages 

 under differing circumstances 

 should be determined." 



Think of it! The ant-lion is 

 known to every American school- 

 boy and that for many genera- 

 tions; and yet, up to 1901, our 

 most widely known entomologist 



A TEXAS BIRTHWORT OR DUCK VINE 



Figure 15. A loosely climbing vine, locally known 

 as the "Duck Vine," as its unopened flower, seen on 

 side view, resemble a swimming duck. Our Birth- 

 wort family (Ariitolochia), is represented by a num- 

 ber of different species, growing in various localities 

 througout the eastern States, the Pipe Vine, or 

 Dutchman's Pipe, and the Virginia Snake Root 

 being two of them. 



