34 FLORA HISTORICA. 



DAISY. Bettis. 



Natural Order Cmpositee Discoidcce. Corymbifercc, 

 Juss. A Genus of the Syngencsia Polygcnnia Super- 

 flua Class. 



By dimpled brook and fountain brim, 



The wood-nymphs, deck'd with Daisies trim, 



Tbeir merry wakes and pastimes keep. 



31 il ton's Comus. 



The Daisy has been made the emblem of Innocence, 

 because it contributes more than any other flower 

 to infantine amusement and the joys of childhood : 



in the spring and play-time of the year, 



That calls the unwonted villager abroad 

 With all her little ones, a sportive train, 

 To gather kingcups in the yellow mead, 

 And prank their hair with Daisies. 



Cowper. 



Those who have passed their early days amongst 

 Daisy-spangled meadows will forcibly feel the many 

 sweet allusions made to this favourite plaything of 

 infancy by the poet in manhood. The very name 

 of this star of the fields seems to renovate the ima- 

 gination, and carry us back to our earliest pleasures ; 

 and to shew that we are not the only people who 

 sport in our youth with this pretty flower, we shall 



