
          676.

* The hog-nose snake.

When we reached R. we took the River Rd. and went directly
to the Dicentra place.  Quite a number of the pretty plants
were found in bloom.  The number of plants seems to be gradually
increasing.  The question was raised whether this increase
takes place soley through the tubers, for we have never seen
the plant with seed-pods.  But that the plant must mature
seed and that the increase also is due to seed, seems also to be
certain as the increase is mainly up the hill.  We now went 
to the Mertensia place, most of the plants showed color.  The 
Yellow Violet, Dentaria heterophylla & D. laciniata, Mitella
and Erythronium were found in bloom.  I collected quite a lot
of the Erythronium for Miss E.  I observed that the anthers
are first reddish brown, then yellow, while shedding pollen,
and finally black.  On our way, we stopped at the hillside
near Rock Br.  Going up the broad path we saw a snake* sunning
itself.  Mr. W. thought it torpid, but I remembered former experiences
and knew that this snake trusted(?) in being passed unobserved.  We soon
found that the snake was very much alive.  At first, it tried to escape
but being prevented, it coiled itself in a very threatening attitude, as
if ready to strike at any moment, at the same time darting out its pretty
        