MIDSUMMER 



ment of their beauty, and is responsible, I sup- 

 pose, for their unpleasing title of bugbane. 



Under the pine-trees are the glossy leaves and 

 nodding bells of the wintergreen ; while here and 

 there spring graceful, wax-like clusters of para- 

 sitic Indian pipe, the fresh blossoms nodding 

 from leafless, fleshy stalks, the older ones erect- Wt$4er- 



i i r -IT71 €fi '■'I and 



ing themselves preparatory to fruiting. When i Hi i um p l p e 

 we pick these odd-looking flowers they turn black 

 from our touch, adding their protest to the cry 

 against the despoiler, and invalidating their claim 

 to the title which they sometimes bear of " corpse- 

 plant." 



From some deep shadow gleam the coral-like 

 berries of the early elder or the bright, rigid 

 clusters of the baneberry. On the low bush- 

 honeysuckle the deep-colored yellow blossoms 



announce to the insect world that they have no Busb- 



r . . . r 11 i honeysuckle 



attractions to offer in the way of pollen or honey, 



their fertilization being achieved already. 



But at present the woods are not altogether 

 satisfactory hunting-grounds. The more inter- 

 esting flowers have sought the combined light 

 and moisture of the open bogs or the sunshine of 

 the fields and road sides. Along the latter are Fields and 



r , , i i • t-> road-sides 



quantities of bladder-campion, a European mem- 

 ber of the pink family which has established it- 

 self in Eastern New England. It can be recog- 



135 



