ORCHID-HUNTING 155 
Whereupon I unwound the rattling coils from my 
arm, and then broke all speed records in removing 
my hand from the neighborhood of that snake. 
This was my first introduction to the King of the 
Dark Places, the grim timber rattlesnake, the hand- 
somest of all the thirteen varieties found within the 
United States. 
On my way back from the den it was Jim Pan who 
pointed out to me on the lower slope of the mountain 
the beautiful showy orchid (Orchis spectabilis). Be- 
tween two oblong shining green leaves grew a loose 
spike of purple-pink and white butterfly blossoms. 
This is the first of the orchids to appear, and no 
more exquisite or beautiful flower could head the 
procession which stretches from May until Septem- 
ber. I find this flower but seldom, usually because 
I am not in the hill-country early enough, although 
once I found a perfect flower in bloom as late as Dec- 
oration Day, a left-over from the first spring flowers. 
It was Jim, too, that day, who quite appropri- 
ately showed me the rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera 
pubescens), with its rosette of green leaves heavily 
veined with white, from the centre of which in late 
summer grows a spike of crowded, greenish-white 
flowers. Under the doctrine of signatures, these 
leaves are still thought by many to be a sure cure for 
the bite of a rattlesnake. Personally, I would rather 
rely on a sharp knife and permanganate of potash. 
In the same group as the rattlesnake plantain are 
several varieties of lady’s tresses, which grow in 
every damp meadow in midsummer and early fall. 
