78 
On the lower slopes of the mountains the Birch and the Moun- 
tain Ash flourish, and also occasionally the dark green Juniper. 
Thousands of acres are covered with heather, or rather heather 
‘and Ling. ‘There are two species of heather common, even 
abundant—the Fine-leaved Heath and the paler Cross-leaved 
Heath. But by far the larger portion is not a true heath, but the 
open-flowered Common Ling, the great honey producer of the 
district. The Ling covers an area of probably fifty or a hundred 
times greater than that occupied by the heaths, so that the fine purple 
of the hills as seen in August, is due to the ling rather than to the 
heather. 
By the sides of the small streams high up on the fells we find 
two species of the Alpine Saxifrages, but neither kind is very 
abundant. The pretty white-flowered Saxifraga stellaris, so called 
from its star-like appearance, grows either singly or two or three 
together on some mossy corner by the edge of the rivulet ; while 
the Saxifraga aizoides, with its showy orange flowers, blooms in 
large patches, and, though not plentiful, is rendered conspicuous 
by its mass of colour. 
In watery places in the lower ground we may find in early 
summer the Common Butterwort, a pretty little purple flower 
growing from a rosette of pale green leaves. It is an abundant 
species in the fell district. And also a little later on (in Midsummer) 
the Round-leaved Sundew, with bright crimson leaves and pale 
cream-coloured flowers, which are seldom expanded ; and in pools 
by the side of Ennerdale Lake, one of the Bladderworts, U*ricu- 
laria intermedia. ‘These three are all members of the well known 
Carnivorous family of plants, which have of late years attracted so 
much attention. They represent the only three genera of this 
family which are natives of the British Isles. They each capture 
their prey in a manner of their own. The Butterworts by means 
of a tenacious fluid which exudes from and covers the upper portion 
of the leaf. This glistening fluid appears to attract small flies and 
other insects, which, settling upon it, are made prisoners by the 
viscid matter. The Sundew is supposed to attract insects by the 
brilliant colour of its crimson leaves, which are closely studded 
