MAT. 



173 



In thick woods, a singular dnll-looking flower rising 

 from the centre of four leaves, called Herb Paris (P. 

 quadrifolia), often meets the searching eye. Its green 

 calyx and four green petals are soon succeeded by a 

 solitary lurid purple berry, whence the name given to 

 it by rustics of " One-berry," or " True-love." Per- 

 haps the latter name may be assigned it from a rustic 

 superstition that any flower or leaf that multiplies its 

 parts, or becomes distorted, is to be considered pre- 

 cious; as a four-leaved-trefoil or shamrock, a six- 

 partite leaf of a cinquefoil, &c. Thus, W. BEOWITE, in 

 his "Britannia's Pastorals," alludes to the blossom of 

 a Primrose accidentally possessing six petals (called by 

 him leaves), instead of the usual number five. 



" The Primrose when with six leaves gotten grace, 



Maids as a true-love in their bosoms place." 

 Herb Paris is very remarkable in this way, for it is 

 not uncommon to find specimens with five or even six 

 leaves, and occasionally the divisions of the calyx and 

 the petals are also multiplied. Though not uncom- 

 mon in sheltered woody spots, it so seldom meets the 

 gaze of a non-botanical eye, as to excuse the beautiful 

 sketch of it given by GEAHAME, who in his researches 

 after birds, had probably never before seen it. 



- " There is a Hawthorn tree 

 With which the Ivy arms have wrestled long ; 

 'Tis old, yet vigorous : beneath its shade 



A beauteous herb, so rare, that all the woods 



For far and near around, cannot produce 



Its like, shoots upright ; from the stalk 



Four pointed leaves, luxuriant, smooth, diverge, 



Crown'd with a berry of deep purple hue. 



Upon this aged Thorn, a lovely pair 



Of Cushats wont to build." * 



* GRAHAME'S Birds of Scotland. 



