201 



on the edge of a considerable rocky precipice mny bo gained 

 perhaps one of the finest views that is to be obtained in the 

 vicinity of Salem. In the rear are distant ontlines of higher 

 ranges of hills in New Hampshire, such as Monadnoc and 

 the hills near Petersham or nearer, the rounded summit of 

 Watatuck in this state, or still nearer, the broader structure 

 of Wachuset in Princeton. Towards the south are the 

 lovely blue hills of Milton and the towering column of the 

 monument on Breed's Hill,' commemorative of a Nation's 

 birth, and stretched before you for many a mile lies the 

 grand bay of Massachusetts, studded with many a white sail, 

 and bounded by the dim ouiline of its beautiful capes. 



The flowers of this rocky region remind one somewhat of 

 the sterile characteristics of the Alpine heights, and beautiful 

 tufts of fruticulose or brittle but branching lichens, and of 

 the grander foliaceous ones meet you on every side. The 

 loose stones lying like huge lumps of some friable substance, 

 are crumbling beneath the insidious action of their dissolv- 

 ing acids and becomes the soil for scanty grasses or stiff 

 sedgy tufts of vegetation. The hot surfaces afibrd retreats 

 for the tiger beetles (cicindelos) and for similar insects that 

 love to bask in the sun ; and the dungeon crevices of 

 the neighboring hills bear the reputation of rattle-snake dens ; 

 a reputation one suspects rather more mythical than literally 

 true. 



The Crotalus doubtless is to be considered one of our na- 

 tive reptiles, now and then a few specimens being captured 

 or destroyed in the vicinity. But there are periods of the 

 year when these dreaded species do not venture from their 

 retreats, and they who fear to encounter them should em- 

 brace such times to visit this elevated spot for the sake of 

 the scenery it affords. An almost direct line may be assum- 

 ed across the intervening hills from the turnpike which 

 would furnish a delightful ramble for an autumn afternoon. 

 An exploration in other directions of this neighborhood 

 brought to the notice of the party engaged in it many singu- 



ESSEX INST. PROCEED. VOL. ii. 26. 



