86 DAYS OUT OF DOORS. 



Still there was no lack of beauty. The beautiful 

 pitcher plant was in full leaf, and many a one was 

 emptied of its water as I hunted for the insects that nour- 

 ish this curious carnivorous plant. I found none, nor 

 were the flower-like leayes at all sensitive. Perhaps they 

 were keeping Lent just then, and I doubt not will feast 

 heartily when a cloud of mosquitoes settles in the valley 

 of this forest brook. 



I shall always covet the hollies growing there. Some 

 were great pyramids of deepest green, still sparkling with 

 myriads of red berries. These trees grow not only with 

 branches so low that the trunk is hidden, but with the 

 main stem bare for several feet in height, gray as a thrifty 

 beech, and quite as smooth. On one such, a curious lichen 

 — the Grapta insculpta — had grown until the tree ap- 

 peared wrapped in inscribed parchment. Every letter of 

 every alphabet was well represented, and cuneiform in- 

 scriptions and runes were noticeably abundant. 



That this little corner of " the pines " teems with nov- 

 elties I have no doubt ; that animal life is really more 

 abundant than then appeared is certainly true, but no 

 demonstration of this is possible during so brief a visit. 

 Could I spend a year upon the banks of that little creek I 

 should have much to tell, but to tarry for an hour is of no 

 avail. 



Better than to do this — my good-natured critic not- 

 withstanding—is to continue unto the end paddling among 

 bull-frogs upon Big Bird Creek. But I hope to return 

 before the summer ends. 



And what of April at home ? Alas ! it is rarely twice 

 the same, and describe it never so cunningly, a typical 

 " Spring Moon " would scarcely ibe recognized. In 1886, 

 the month was hot; in 1887, a curious mixture of all 

 other seasons; while that of 1888 could bgast of snow- 



