JULY 
233 
F. — The genus Buprestis is remarkable for the general 
beauty of its species ; most of them being characterized by a 
metallic brilliancy of colour. We have several species here. 
I have lately observed two species of Coccinella, which I 
have seen in Newfoundland, but which appear to be scarce 
here; one is the beautiful Scarlet Ladybird, (Coccinella 
b-notata ?J so very common there ; the other is the Banded 
Ladybird, f Coccinella ? J 
C, — The Wild Raspberry f Rubus Ideus J has been in 
blossom about a week ; and on some bushes I perceive the 
fruit is beginning to form. The Wild Strawberry C Fragaria 
Virginiayia) is ripe, and quite abundant : it is of a pleasant 
flavour, but far inferior in size to the cultivated species. 
Here is a rather handsome plant ; do you know its name ? 
F, — It is commonly called the Poke, and its root is con- 
sidered by the common people as poisonous. Its botanical 
appellation is Veratrum Viride, It has not the slightest re- 
semblance to the plant called Poke in the south (Phytolacca 
JDecandria J, This plant resembles some of the large liliaceous 
plants ; it dies to the root every year, and in the spring sends 
up a large bulb of broad^ lance-oval leaves sheathing each 
other : the leaves have deep plaits running their whole 
length,, like a half-closed fan. From the centre shoots a 
stalk sometimes three feet high, bearing a spike of small 
plain greenish flowers at the top ; as you see, for it is now in 
blossom : these are succeeded by dry seed vessels, which 
open and drop their seeds. The plant is most common in 
the black swampy earth of the evergreen woods, and does 
not often grow in clearings, except by the side of pools of 
water in low grounds, as here. The flowers have no beauty, 
but the large leaves give it rather a noble appearance. 
C. — What pretty little bird is that^ running along with 
such nimble feet on the bank ? 
F, — I believe it is one of the Sandpipers (probably 
