Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, vol 2.djvu/578

542 is the involucrum of four large unequal white leaves, containing an umbel of dark purple flowers. The berry is red, and has a sweetish taste.

KcBUS Cham^mohus, Linn. Sp. PI. p. 708. TVilld. Sp. PL vol. ii. p. 1090. Ptirsh,

Flor. Amer. Sept. vol. i. p. 349. — Icosandria Poltgynia, Linn. RosACEiE, A herbaceous bramble with simple, plaited, and lobed leaves ; stem without prickles, undivided and single-flowered. The flowers are white, and the berries large and of a yellowish-red colour. They are ripe in July, when they drop from the stalk at the slightest touch, make an ex- cellent preserve, and are collected by Indians, fishermen, and eggers, in great quantities. In Newfoundland I found them larger and better than in Labrador. Their ripeness is a sure intimation of the arrival of the Esquimaux Curlew (Numenius borealu), which comes in clouds from the north, to feed upon them.

Kalmia glauca, Willd. Sp. PL voL ii. p. 601. Pursh, Flor. Amer. Sept. voL i. p 296 — Decandria Monogynia, Linn.

A small shrubby plant, with brown bark, opposite, sessile, ovato-oblong leaves, which have the margins revolute and the under surface glaucous; and terminal bracteated corymbs of beautiful rose-coloured flowers.