6 
THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
presents a ver\^ handsome spectacle. The spores are 
shed about October 13. 
The common club-moss {Lycopodium elavatum), 
whose club-like fruiting spikes give the name of club-moss 
to the whole family, is by no means common here. The 
spores are shed early in September. 
Even when not in fruit our species of club-moss are 
readily distinguished, the ground pine b3^ its tree-like 
habit, 'the shining club-moss by its broadish, sharp but 
not long-pointed leaves, the stiff club-moss by its narrow- 
er long-pointed leaves, and the common club-moss b^^ its 
bristle-tipped leaves. 
GueJph, Ontario. 
HARBINGER OF SPRING. 
BY EMMA E. LAUGHLIX. 
THERE is a dainty little wild flower, known onh^ to 
its friends and lovers, which bears the technical 
name Erigenia bulbosa, or the common name Harbinger 
of Spring. 
Indeed it is a harbinger of spring, for it always 
appears a week before the spring beauty (Claytonia 
Virginica) and often a month before any other wild wood 
blossom. It is the first representative of the Parsley 
family of nature's widespread brotherhood. 
Some warm spring-like day in February or early 
March, when you are walking in the woods, if you 
already know and love this tiny white flower, you will 
find it peeping out from among the dry leaves on a sunny 
southern slope. Otherwise you will never see it at all. 
It will not flaunt itself in yonr face, nor invite you to 
pluck it from its stem. Cuddled down close to some 
gnarled root in a sheltered nook, it will wait shyly for 
you to find it. You may pass the spot a dozen times 
and not see it, and the next time find it and wonder w^hy 
you did not see it at the first. You will feel like bowing 
humbly before the faith of this little woodland plant that 
the springtime never failed us 3^et. 
You will see only the white of the petals and the 
