352 WILD FLOWEBS OF 



fragrant couch on which he may recline in luscious 

 idleness, and obtain " divine oblivion of low-thoughted 

 care." BURNS has presented, in his own matchless 

 way, the picture of a " bonnie moor-hen " flying from 

 her pursuers, among the blooming heather, where 



" Sweet brushing the dew from the brown heather bells, 

 Her colour betrayed her on yon mossy fells ; 

 Auld Phoabus himsel, as he peep'd o'er the hill, 

 In spite at her plumage he tried his skill ; 

 He levell'd his rays where she bask'd on the brae 

 His rays were outshone, and but mark'd where she lay." 



From the extent of moorland in Scotland, that country 

 has been generally distinguished as the " land of 

 brown heath," and the clans of M'Donald and 

 M'Alister bear two of the species as their device : 

 hence clouds, storms, and impending dreary rocks, are 

 images that unconsciously arise in our minds, when 

 referring to the heather bells ; and a modern writer, 

 when descanting upon the " moral of flowers," has 

 exclaimed 



" Since I've view'd thee afar in thine own Highland dwelling, 



There are spells clinging round thee I knew not before ; 

 For to fancy's rapt ear dost thou ever seem telling 

 Of the pine-crested rock and the cataract's roar." 



The Mountain Heather of the Scotch Poets, which 

 gives such a black aspect to the bleak hills of Scotland, 

 is the Ling or common Heath (Calluna vulgaris), now 

 properly separated from Erica, whose calyx as well as 

 corolla is coloured, and whose elegant attire, generally 

 diffused as it is in Europe, deserves every encomium 

 it has received. The leaves are more or less pubes- 

 cent, and sometimes quite hoary, when it has received 

 the name of ciliaris, but this variety is not the Erica 

 ciliaris of LIKN^TJS, the beautiful Ciliated Heath 



