134 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



cundation is completed, the border contracts in- 

 wardly, and gathers together like a purfe. Na- 

 ture has, however, given it a place in fouthern la- 

 titudes, but fhe has there tinged it with violet and 

 blue, in order to weaken the effect. Befides, this 

 flower fcarcely ever opens in hot countries, except 

 in the night. From this nocturnal character, I 

 prefume, it is, that we are chiefly enabled to di- 

 flinguim the convolvulus of the South, from that 

 of our own climates, which blows in the day-time. 

 In the plate we have reprefented the day-convol- 

 vulus, or that which is native with us, expanded ; 

 and that of the night, or of hot countries, clofed ; 

 the one having a pofitive character with the light, 

 and the other a negative character. 



The flowers which partake the mofl of this co- 

 nical form are thofe which grow early in the 

 Spring, as the flower of the arum, which is formed 

 like a cornet ; or thofe which thrive on lofty 

 mountains, as the bears-ear of the Alps. When 

 Nature employs it in Summer, it is almofl always 

 with negative characters, as in the flowers of the 

 fox-glove, which are inclined, and dyed a deep 

 red, or blue colour* 



Spheric ai, reverberating flowers, are thofe whofe 

 petals are formed into fegments of a circle. One 

 might amufe himfelf very agreeably, in obferving 



that 



