DRY FIELDS— WASTE PLACES— WAYSIDES i8i 



The calyx is somewhat swollen, i inch long, and leaves are 

 long, narrow, tapering to a point. 



The pretty, fragrant flowers invite the night-moths by throwing 

 open their petal doors by night. In the daytime it is only a wilted, 

 uninteresting flower. 



Mr. W. H. Gibson says : " ' Is not the midnight like Central 

 Africa to most of us?' asks Thoreau ; and not without reason, 

 for even the best-informed student of daylight natural history 

 may visit his accustomed haunts in the darkness as a pilgrim in 

 a strange land. At least once in the summer to light our lantern 

 and walk among the flowers would well repay us, for the flowers 

 and leaves asleep are a strange, unwonted sight. And occasion- 

 ally the rule is reversed, as in the case of the night-flowering 

 catch-fly, and the flower, like some belle of the ball dressed in 

 white, is awake, entertaining insect guests, to whom her portals 

 are closed by day." 



13. Mouse-ear Chickweed 



Cerdstium viscosum (a horn, from shape of pod). — Family, 

 Pink. Color, white. Leaves, egg-shaped or oblong. Timc\ 

 May, June. 



All the parts of the flower, 5. A small, straight, hairy an- 

 nual, 6 or 8 inches high. The tiny flowers are in clusters, ter- 

 minating the stem. The pods become quite long. 



An imported species. 



14. Field Chickweed 



C. arvinse is commoner. The petals are notched. The 

 narrow, lance-shaped, opposite leaves grow smaller towards 

 the end of the branch on thin, weak petioles, 4 to 8 inches 

 high. 



15. Larger Mouse-ear Chickweed 



C. vulgatum has larger, pedicelled, white flowers clustered 



