APEIL. 115 



As it flits about, exercising the acutest eye with its 

 swift motions, it pours forth a soft, intermitting, 

 shrill, but not unpleasing melody to delight the ob- 

 server. 



The Ground-Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) now flowers 

 plentifully, offering a bright blue devious line to the 

 eye beside many a rustic hedge hence its vernacular 

 name of " Eobin-run-i'-the-hedge." Some red-cloaked 

 old woman may now be observed in most villages 

 "carrying off the church"* in searching for it to 

 make purifying tea. 



From our retreat in the wood, various plants 

 belonging to the Vernal Mora now arise to view, and 

 claim botanical attention. Among these the "Wood 

 Spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides), is very conspicuous 

 with its red stem, and the Stichwort (Stellaria grami- 

 nea), with its trailing stems and white flowers, is 

 peculiarly characteristic of this period. Two elegant 

 plants appear also at this time in the sheltered glade, 

 and often in juxta-position, that are very ornamental, 

 and when contrasted with each other, present a fea- 

 ture that would charm even a non-poetical eye. One 

 of these is the "White Meadow Saxifrage (Saocifraga 

 granulata), generally occurring on dry banks, but said 

 to indicate the proximity of water underneath. I 

 remember to have seen a great profusion of this 

 species by the side of the Man of Ross's "Walk, at 

 Ross, on a sandstone rock, overlooking the beauteous 

 valley of the "Wye. The other plant to which I 

 allude, as of frequent occurrence in the central 

 counties of England, is the Wood Scorpion- Grass 

 (Myosotis sylvatica), whose broad hairy leaves are 



* Of course artistically, as a painter would say. 



i 2 



