SWISS FLOWERS. 81 



one of the smallest of shrubs, its trailing branches rising 

 about half a foot iu height, thickly covered with the alternate 

 evergreen leaves about the size of those of Thyme. These 

 are leathery in substance, and rolled back at the edges. The 

 small, pretty, pinkish, flowers grow in terminal clusters ; 

 they have five lobes to the corolla, and five stamens. A. 

 procumbens is found in the Scotch highlands on the top of 

 high mountains, and is sometimes called Loiseleuria. Rocks 

 of the High Alps, chiefly those of the centre and west of 

 Switzerland : Chamounix, Engadine. 



63 and 64. Primula. 



(PLATES XXXIV. and XXXV.) 



After all, in its way, there is nothing more lovely than 

 a copse carpeted Avith the Primrose, that especially English 

 flower. The delicacy of its inimitable colour and of its scent 

 does not prevent it from giving a cheerful hue and frag- 

 rant odour to the budding wood, whose half-bare branches 

 allow the sun to play across the long glades where the busy 

 bee and the early butterfly are rejoicing once more in the 

 sight of flowers. We all know Primroses and Cowslips so 

 well that the very attempt to describe them seems to make 

 difficulties, and perhaps the man was saved some vexation 



6 



