
          506.

hillsides below the bridge at Hill's Spring and in the car with me were
another with their teachers who no doubt went over the same ground
we did.  Nevertheless 20 plants were found, the new ones being,
Barbarea vulgaris, Anemonella thalictroides, and Ranunculus abortivus. On the hillside we found Silene Pennsylvanica almost in flower.  Lindera
Benzoin is now in full bloom.  While we were examining a bush of
this pretty plant, we were suddenly surprised by having a large hen to
creep out from near the ground with unusual haste. We had been so
interested in the flowers that she had escaped our notice, and might
have remained without our observing her.  But now in looking on the
ground, quite hidden by the brush we saw her large nest which contained
13 eggs.  We saw that one of the eggs had rolled out of the nest, this
I picked up and replaced besides the others which were quite warm.
We did not remain here long and on our return we found the old
hen again on her nest.  Violets and Early Saxifrage were found
plentifully.  We examined very carefully Draba verna, Sisymbrium Thalianum
and Capsella Bursa-pastoris and all learned to distinguish them readily
by means of their pods.[note at top of page: In our tramp two small snakes were observed sunning themselves.]  High up on the hillside is an old house
now vacant and going to wreck, near it we found Forsythia suspensa
<s>and</s> from which all got pretty specimens.  We started for home a little before
        