112 WILD FLOWERS OF 



presents her specious glories, and far and wide are 

 scattered the light purple Cuckoo-flowers (Cardamine 

 pratensis) 



" Wan-hued Lady-smocks, that love to spring 

 Near the swamp margin of some plashy pond ; " 



from whence perhaps as we approach, away springs 

 the quacking Mallard, or the sable Coot ruffles the 

 water as she shuffles off in a long extending line. 



In moist rocky woods the Golden .Saxifrage (Cliry- 

 soplenium oppositifolium,} now makes a pleasing 

 appearance, the Hawthorn is evidently becoming 

 leafy, the Wild Cherry beautifully displays its in- 

 numerable snowy flowers, and perhaps, amidst its 

 branches, the newly-arrived Nightingale charms the 

 ear with her earliest rapturous melody. 



" It is the voice of Spring among the ti'ees." * 



At this springing season the Botanical Explorator, 

 nervously alive to every enjoyment arising not merely 

 from rural sights, but rural sounds also, is often a 

 recipient of the most exquisite pleasure, arising from 

 the melody of birds among the budding brandies. 

 The feathered tribes, now intent upon the interesting 

 process of nidification, seek the most retired and 

 romantic solitudes for their nests. Where the dark 

 frowning rock shadows the still darker stream where 

 the music of running waters gladdens the mazy 

 labyrinth of the trackless forest where the still 

 pool, with its flags, bulrushes, and islets of water-lily 

 leaves, is skirted by a thicket of hazels and alders, the 

 ground covered with blue-bells or white Eamsonsf 

 there the warblers are sure to resort, and there, too, 

 the Botanist repairs, to seek for his well-remembered 



* GRAHAME. t Allium ursinum, LINN. 



