A TASTE OF MAINE BlkCH. 68 



to wrap a chain around it. The rock Beemfl poised 

 lightly, and has but a few points of bearin In this 

 instance, too, the power had come from the north. 



The prettiest botanical specimen my trip yielded 

 was a little plant that bears the ugly name of horn 

 bladderwort (Utricular la cornuta), and which 1 

 found growing in marshy places along the shores of 

 Moxie Lake. It has a slender, naked stem nearly a 



■ 



foot high, crowned by two or more large deep yellt 

 flowers, — flowers the shape of little bonnets or hood . 

 One almost expected to see tiny faces looking out of 

 them. This illusion is heightened by the horn or Bpur 

 of the flower, which projects from the hood like a long 

 tapering chin, — some masker's device. Then the 

 cape behind, — what a smart upward curve it 1 

 as if spurned by the fairy shoulders it was meant to 

 cover ! But perhaps the most notable thing about the 

 flower was its fragrance, — the richest and str< 

 perfume I have ever found in a wild flower. This 

 our botanist, Gray, does not mention, as if one should 

 describe the lark and forget its song. 1 he fragrance 

 suggested that 'of white clover, but was more raid; and 

 spicy. 



The woods about Moxie Lake were literally ear 

 ed with Linncea. I had never seen it in such profu- 

 sion. In early summer, the period of its bloom. 

 a charming spectacle the mossy floors of these n m 

 woods must present! The flowers are purple 

 color, nodding and fragrant. Another very abundant 

 plant in these woods was the Clintonia borea 

 Uncle Nathan said it was called " bear's com." though 

 he did not know why. The only noticeable flower by 

 the Maine roadsides at this season that is nol ooran 

 in other parts of the country is the harebell. Us 



