, THE SCIENTIST. ; 55 
On March 17, I arose before dawn to ish world, the value lies in plain, iudis- 
try the ducks. I had hardly closed my pensable facts. 
door when the rushing sound of many A second paper will treat of local 
•whistling wings drew my attention up- movements, among the different species 
-ward. And what a sight! A broad phal- of ducks, 
anx of ducks, at least an eighth of a 
mile in extent, so high that in the dim 
light I could not identify them, and Some ^Jow England Orchids. 
all moving steadily northward. Veri- , 
]y, this was a wave in motion. Some- By C. Antoinette Shepherd, New 
what later, Apr. 4, I enjoyed a similar Britain, Conn. 
sight: ' 
FoK THE Scientist. 
A good half mile from my house, the w i • tvt t:^ ^ i * 
^ , ^ ' We have in New En<?land forty-seven 
southward flowing river contains an . * i,. i ^ • ^- ^ 
° species of Orchids, and in Connecticut, 
east-and-west bend, about a quarter of 
forty species have been found, although 
a mile long.. Returning from an up- ^^^^ of them are very rare. First to 
river trip, about three o clock m the af- ^^^^^^^ in earliest spring is Orc/u. .p.c- 
ternoon, I found this whole section of ^^.^.^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ 
the river one homogeneous mass of SpHng Orchis. In the Middle States it is 
ducks; Mallards, Teals. Redheads, Bald- ^^^j^^^ Preacher in the Pulpit." We 
pates, Gadwalls. Mergansers, Shovel- ^^^^ ^^^^^^ j^j^^ 
ers. Pintails, and who knows but a Can- ^ j^.j.^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ family, the roots are 
vasback or two. They were unusually ^^.^^^ ^^^^^^ p^l^ ^^^^^^ 
tame, and evidently resting. This wfis. j^^^^^ ^ p^.^^^y g^j.^..^^^ ^ p^^^._ 
assuredly, a wave at rest. In case -of pie.pi„k and white flowers, on a land- 
neither of these two occurences -^had g^j^pg 
there been for 48 hours, any notable Next Cvi)r^pe(^^^^maca«?e, Air., comes to 
change in temperature. ^^^^^ r^^^^ stemless or Pink 
Again on the morning of Oct. 10 an- Lady's Slipper, but perhaps better known 
other wave surprised and nearly over- as "Moccasin Flower,"or"Venus Slipper," 
whelmed me. There had been a suflS- it is also called "Indian Moccasin," ''Old 
cient change of temperature to tempt Goose," "CameFs Foot" and "Noah's Ark." 
out the cold-wave flag. And early that This is the best known of all our Orchids, 
morning, at a pond where the night be- and very gay she looks, sitting beneath 
fore were only Wood Ducks, Baldpates the birch or pine trees. The broad, dark 
and a few Coots, were considerable num- green root-leaves contrasting finely with 
bers of Coots, Red-heads and Mallards, the large pink flower. The color varies 
About the same time, and later, after from pale rosy-pink, to deep purple-pink 
copious rains, many kinds of ducks were and sometimes we are surprised to find 
seen in this vicinity in unusual abund- a pure white flower. These albinos are 
ance, for a few days at a time. very dainty and beautiful. 
This hastily prepared paper, sandwich- During the last of May, C. pubescens, 
ed between interminable duties, is inten- Willd., unfolds its pale yellow flowers, 
ded as suggestive merely. Whatsoever This is the large Yellow Lady's Slipper, 
generalizations the writer may have the children call " Whip-poor- Will 
formed from the above recorded obser- Shoe." The stems are about two feet 
vations are not likely to benefit.— or to high, with broadly oval pubescent leaves, 
harm, — any one but himself. Anyhow, the flowers nodding at the top of the 
W3 have theories galore, in this upstart- stem. 
