File:Birds and nature (1902) (14755666665).jpg

Identifier: birdsnature1111902chic (find matches)
Title: Birds and nature
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Birds Natural history
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Mumford, Publisher
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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and her characteristics seem to behome-loving and simple. We are sureto find her peeping through the gardenfence. TURTLE-HEAD OR SNAKE-HEAD. (Che lone glabra.) The Turtle-head or Snake-head is oneof three species that are natives of east-ern North America. This plant is wellsupplied with common names, as it isalso called Shell-flower, Cod-head, Bitter-herb and Balmony. The generic name ofthis flower of the swamps and moistbanks of streams is from the Greek wordwhich means tortoise, the name havingbeen given to the plant because of thefancied resemblance between the flowers and the head of a turtle or snake. Onemay be able, by stretching his imagina-tion, to see this resemblance in the flowersof our illustration. The custom of giving names to plantsthat are suggestive of their real or fan-cied resemblance to various objects ofnature, or are indicative of their bene-ficial or injurious qualities, is as old ashistory itself. In this way a large num-ber of plants have become associated 86
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with good or evil spirits, Christian orpagan saints or martyrs, animate natureor some of the phenomena of nature. Tothe Indian the hkeness of the flower ofthe Turtle-head to the head of a reptilenot only gave it its name, but at thesame time invested the plant with cer-tain sacred associations by reason of thefact that not only among the Indians ofNorth America, but among the unciv-ilized peoples in all parts of the world the tortoise has been considered sacredand highly symbolical. Though commonly found in low alti-tudes, it is found in moist places in theAdirondacks, even at a height of threethousand feet. This plant is not rare, and with its up-right stem and its rather large and clus-tered white or slightly rose-colored flow-ers it is a dignified and beautiful featureof any floral community. THE POCKET BIRD. About the middle of May a gaily col-ored bird from his winter home in neo-tropical regions visits the United States.His body is bright scarlet, his slightlyforked tail and his

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