234 LICHENS. 



hills. Near Oban, particularly, they flourished in great 

 luxuriance. 



But the minute tubercles of the thread-shaped species 

 were quite thrown into the shade by the equally brilliant 

 and much larger receptacles of the cochineal and finger- 

 cup lichens (S. coccinea and digitata, Plate XVI., Jigs. 12 

 and 13). These were old friends, having been among 

 the denizens of Starvegoose, with which we became 

 acquainted on our first excursion. One of them is the 

 plant described by Mrs. Hemans as suggesting so touching 

 an association : — 



" And one, with cup all crimson dyed, 

 Spoke of a Saviour crucified." 



The horned cup-lichen closely resembles the thread- 

 shaped species, but the tubercles were much larger in 

 proportion to the cups (S. cornutus). None of the cup- 

 lichens are prettier than the torn-coated one (S. sparassis, 

 Plate XVI., fig. 11), with its clusters of leaves, or scales, 

 growing on its cup or stem, and giving it such a finished 

 appearance. This plant I found first in Kent, and 

 recently in Scotland. This family is an especial favourite 

 with the poets, Wordsworth launches forth in their praises 

 when he writes — 



" All lovely colours there you see, 

 All colours that were ever seen ; 

 And mossy net-work too is there, 

 As if by hand of lady fair 

 The work had woven been ; 

 And cups, the darlings of the eye, 



