PRTTILLARY. "211 



Dutch have large glasses to flower these bulbs in 

 Water, in the same manner as Hyacinths, It sel- 

 dom ripens its seed in England, therefore we must 

 depend on the increase by the offset bulbs. 



COMMON FRITILLARY,or CHEQUERED 

 LILY. Fritillaria Meleagris. 



These flowers are natives of most of the European 

 countries, and are generally found growing in 

 humid meadows. At present they are much less 

 in request than formerly, although, when planted 

 in large clumps, their pendulous blossoms and che- 

 quered appearance afford a desirable variety amongst 

 the gifts which Flora bestows upon us in the early 

 part of the month of April. The Black Fritillary 

 is a native of France, and Monsieur Pirolle tells us 

 that a variety with perfectly white corollas is found 

 in the neighbourhood of Poitou. Some of the 

 varieties have their petals chequered like a chess- 

 board, others are mottled or spotted like the fea- 

 thers of the Guinea-fowl, and hence Gerard calls 

 them " Turkey-hen, or Guinea-hen flowers ;" and 

 they are now distinguished by botanists under the 

 Latin name Meleagris, (Guinea-fowl,) although 

 some of the varieties are of a plain yellow, blood- 



VOL. I. M 



