494 WILD FLOWERS OF 



butterflies the iris-winged Peacock and the red Ata- 

 lanta, come like improvident prodigals flashing in 

 splendid attire when other hopes have failed, to the 

 feast which the careful ivy has yet power to provide. 

 Even in this last flower of the year the same instruc- 

 tive lesson of adaptation to circumstances is given us 

 as is seen throughout the floral chapter. The ane- 

 mone shuts up its petals from the wind, the pimpernel 

 closes its corolla from the rain in summer time when 

 plenty of sunshine is to be had, and daisies and but- 

 tercups early recline the languid head, for they can 

 get up again with the rising sun. But the gleams of 

 October are few, and the days short, so the petals of 

 the ivy often expanding in obscure places, are closely 

 reflex, that the sun's rays may exercise their full 

 power upon the stamens and pistils, and they are thus 

 ready to imbibe every vagrant beam that approaches 

 them, to ensure the formation of the berry. Thus 

 is a designing Providence shown in arranging the 

 mechanism of a flower according to the season when 

 it has to appear. The Snowdrop is erect in infancy 

 and pendulous in maturity to escape the storm, while 

 the poppy is the converse to imbibe the sun ; and the 

 ivy still more requiring solar agency at a period when 

 it is daily becoming less, opens its petals to the light, 

 and recurves them never again to furl upwards. 



" A rare old plant is the Ivy green ! ' and as win- 

 ter approaches especially does it become an orna- 

 mental object wherever it entwines itself whether on 

 ruined tower or aged tree. 



" It changes not as seasons flow 



In silent changeful course along ; 



Spring finds it verdant, leaves it so ; 

 It outlives Summer's song." 



