Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, vol 2.djvu/342

306 spots on the breast and rump paler, and tinged with green. Feet and legs blackish-brown.

Iris veesicoloe, WilM. Sp. PI. vol. i. p. 233. Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept. vol. i. p. 29. ^Teiandeia Monogynia, lAnn, Ieides, Juss.

Beardless ; the stem round, flexuous, equal in height to the leaves, which are ensiform ; the sti^as equalling the inner petals ; capsules ovate, with their angles obtuse. This Iris is extremely common in all the swampy parts of the Southern States, and extends far up along the Mis- sissippi. In many places I have seen beds of a quarter of an acre. It is cultivated here and there in gardens.

The Smilax represented grows abundantly in the same localities, climbing over any low bush so profusely as to cover it. The berries when ripe are eaten by many species of birds.