p 



TI/E BEE OPHRYS. 



Then with a smile that filled the house with li^ht — 



' My errand is not Death, but Life,' he said ; 

 And, ere I answered, passing out of sight, 

 On his celestial embassy he sped. 



'Twas at thy door, O friend, and not at mine, 



The angel with the Amaranthine wreath. 

 Pausing, descended ; and, with voice divane, 



Whispered a word that had a sound of Death. 



Then fell upon the house a sudden gloom — 

 A shadow on those features fair and thin ; 



And softly, from that hushed and darkened room, 

 Two angels issued, where but one went in." 



Does the writer wish to imply that the Asphodel typifies this 

 present Life, a season of disappointments and regrets, while 

 the Amaranth represents Death, as the period which grants 

 to the prepared spirit an entrance into Life immortal 1 



THE BEE OPHRYS {O, ^///"^m).— Error. 



" See, Delia, see this image bright ! why starts my fair one at the sight? 

 It mounts not on offensive wing, nor threats thy breast with angry sting ; 

 Admire, as close the insect lies, its thin-wrought plume and honey'd 



thighs, 

 Whilst on this flow'ret's velvet breast, it seems as though 'twere lull'd to 



rest. 

 Nor might its fairy wqngs unfold, enchain'd in aromatic gold : 

 Think not to set the captive free, 'tis but the picture of a bee." — Snow. 



This is one of the most remarkably beautiful of our 



indigenous orchids. Its ordinary habitat is in open meadows, 



'V\ by woodsides, on chalky soils. It is found, but sparingly, 



19 c 2 



