224 NOTES ON SPRING FLOWERS, ETC. 



at the bottom. It is called Primula from the Latin Primus — first, from its 

 early appearance; and in France Prinievere. It appears to be a great favourite 

 with our poets as the herald of spring. To commence with Clare — 



"How sweot thy modest unaffected pride 

 Glows on the sunny bank and wood's warm Bide." 



And our Devonshire poet too^ Carrington — 



"Amid the sunny luxury of grass 

 Are tufts of pale-eyed Primroses, entwin'd 

 With many a bright-hued flower, and shrub that scents 

 The all voluptuous air." 



And very beautiful are the following by Hartley Coleridge, which reminds one 

 of the line in Milton's "Lycidas" — 



"The rathe Primrose that forsaken dies." 



"In dewy glades 

 The peering Primrose, like sudden gladness, 

 Gleams on the soul, yet unregarded fades; 

 The joy is ours, but all its own the sadness." 



A later poet says 



"The solitary Primrose hath come back 

 To haunt the green nooks of her happy spring 



Who does not remember the heart-felt joy when he has seen the first spring 

 Violet, and how it has been treasured? The Sweet Violet, {Viola odorata,) 

 may easily be distinguished from the Dog Violet, ( V. canina,) which has no 

 perfume, by the obtuse leaves of the calyx: those of the latter tapering to a 

 sharp point. The Hairy Violet, ( V. hirta,) which I have never met with in 

 this neighbourhood, also has blunt calyx leaves, but the root is not creeping 

 like that of V. odorata, and the flower stalks as well as the leaves are covered 

 with hairs. The flowers of the Sweet Violet are recommended as a Cosmetic 

 by an old herbalist in the following words: — "Anoint thy face with goat's 

 milk in which Violets have been infused, and there is not a young prince on 

 the earth who will not be charmed with thy beauty." Our immortal poet, 

 who thoroughly appreciated all Nature's beauties, speaks of 



"Violets dim. 

 But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes 

 Or Cytherca's breath." 



Winteh's Tale. 

 And Barry Cornwall of 



"Violets, whose looks are like the skies." 



About the 18th. of February, the Common Daffodil, (Narcisms Pseudo- 

 narcissus,) may be found on a hedge-bank near Colt, by the banks of the 

 Dart, &c. The flowers are solitary, and formed of six egg-shaped petals, yel- 

 lowish, the nectary deep yellow and bell-shaped. Its name is derived from 

 Narcissus, who is said to have been changed into this plant, or more probably 

 perhaps from wa?7<:e— stupor, in allusion to the powerful and injurious smell 

 of tho flowers. 



