Gbe TOarbler 83 



rich bird-life. All the coarseness seems to have been shut out. We are 

 greeted by the gleeful voices of innumerable Warblers and other birds loving 

 the seclusion of the swamps. A" dense and soft carpet of sphagnum moss 

 covers the ground everywhere and out of it grows the aromatic wintergreen 

 {Gaultheria procumbens), the Labrador tea {Ledum latifolium), the star flower 

 (Trientalis americana), the dwarf cornel {Cor mis canadensis), the twin flower 

 {Li mice a borealis), the cliutonia {Clintonia borealis) and cranberries. Ferns 

 of many species in single clumps or in groups and masses attract our atten- 

 tion. Pitcher plants {Sarracenia purpurea), clumps of lobelias and hundreds 

 of other plants add beauty and variety to this floral medley. 



The jewels among these moisture-loving plants, however, are the 

 different species of terrestrial orchids, found everywhere among the shrubs, 

 along the paths and in small openings. The delicate rain's head {Cypri- 

 pedium arietimun) begins to flower early in June, while the beautiful and 

 showy stemless lady slipper (C acaule) is rarely found in its full glory 

 before the tenth of the month. A few days later, or often at the same time, 

 the large yellow lady slipper {C. pubescens) opens its magnificent blossoms. 

 The last and most exquisite of all, the gem among gems, the moccasin flower 

 {C. spectabile) is usually in full bloom by June 15, displaying its pink 

 purple-veined blossoms everywhere. The last two species grow in magnifi- 

 cent clumps among the wintergreen, delicate ferns, clintonias and twin- 

 flowers. The strong and pleasant odor of the white cedar fills the air, par- 

 ticularly during warm days. Although an attempt has been made to drain 

 this large swamp, little as yet has been accomplished, and I sincerely hope 

 that ways and means may be found that this unique spot may be preserved 

 as a reservation for game, birds and wild flowers. 



This is nature's realm. It is the prettiest, wildest, weirdest, most unique 

 conglomeration of paradise and perdition I have found in Wisconsin. Not 

 everybody can enter it during summer without repulsion. Only the few blessed, 

 the lovers of nature, may penetrate into its depths without fear. They only 

 will find pleasure, enjoyment and food for their intellect. The society man, 

 the common mortal finds no pleasure in penetrating the stronghold of millions 

 of mosquitoes, stinging flies, oppressive heat, fallen trees, pools of water, 

 poisonous nettles and other adversaries. To him such places only have 

 horrors, no pleasures. The lover of nature, on the other hand, finds in them 

 ideal spots of poetry and beauty, and he searches them with love and en- 

 thusiasm. I have always looked at the great Sheboygan marsh as a veritable 

 paradise of bird life. Within its sheltering arms is heard the most conspicu- 

 ous of sylvan utterances, the thundering sound of the Ruffed Grouse. Here 

 we may still find the beautiful Wood Duck or we may come across a colony 

 of Blue Herons. In the seclusion of this swampy retreat the Woodcock feels 

 perfectly safe. 



During the last few years while residing in Wisconsin (from 1895 to 



