Scuriurus Niger: The Black Squirrel.
This Squirrel is about the Size of the preceedent, many of these
being entirely black; some have their Noses only white, some their
Feet white, others the End of the Tail white, and some others have
white round their Necks. The Tails of there are somewhat less, and
not so long as those of the gray Fox Squirrel, yet this little Difference,
with that of their Colour, seemed to me at first hardly sufficient
to determine them two Species, but by their breeding, associating,
and other Circumstances I observed, I am convinced of the common
Opinion that they are two different Species. These with the gray
Fox Squirrel are very numerous and destructive to Corn in the Fields,
for which reason, as well as for the Delicacy of their Flesh no
Quarter is given them.
Calceolus Marianus glaber, Petalis angustis: The Yellow Lady's
Slipper.
This Plant rises with three or more Stems to the Height of twelve
or sixteen Inches, each Stem having three or four rough, pointed,
nervous Leaves, growing alternately, and enclosing their Stalk at
their Basis; on the Top of every Stalk grows the Flower, which is
yellow, hollow, of an oblong Form, resembling an Egg on the back-part,
tho' on the fore-part open, having an Apron or Lappet hanging over
the Hollow: At the Pedicles of which are fixed two small
oval Parts or Knobs, of the Size of Ant's Eggs: From the Back of
this yellow concave flower grow four Petals, or Leaves of different
Dimensions. viz. one standing upright, two more slender and
wreathed, spreading on each Side horizontally, and a fourth to the
joining of the Stalk to the Ovarium, to which the Flower
is fixed; there four Petals are green, thick spotted with brownish
red, the Seed Vessel, as I remember, is pentagonal, of an oblong
Form, containing innumerable small dusty Seeds; They grow on the
sandy Banks of Rivers in Carolina, Virginia, and Pensilvania,
from which last Place they were introduced to the Garden of Mr.
Peter Collinson at Peckham, where they flowered in
Perfection.
73

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