GERANIUM TRIBE 157 



scientific arrangement and philosophic purposes, there is a childish delight 

 in the rencontre of such mementos of early days, when time, and thought, 

 and pleasure were young and pure. I have met them thus in southern 

 counties, and occasionally near the Irwell, but how altered ! ' Quantum 

 mutati ah illis /' — the hue is less brilliant, the herbage weaker, the bed a few 

 thin and scattered patches. What can be the cause? Is it that later 

 impressions are warped by prejudice, from want of novelty, or of the 

 requisite associations 1 or does the pre-eminence of Ayrshire Crane's-bill 

 depend on the position of the streams, where it grows over basaltic rocks, 

 Avhose debris is more suited to vegetation of this kind than the washing of 

 the new red sandstone of Lancashire 1 The latter conclusion I am willing to 

 adopt," adds our author, "liecause it is the most reasonable, and, if for no 

 other reason, because it favours my theory." 



5. Wood Crane's-bill {G. sylvdticum). —^t&m erect, many -flowered ; 

 leaves palmate, 7-lobed; lobes cut and serrated ; stamens awl-shapecl, fringed; 

 capsules keeled, hairy ; fruit-stalks erect. Plant perennial. This rare plant 

 grows in woods and pastures, chiefly in the northern parts of this island. It 

 has, in June and July, very pretty purple or pale rose-coloured flowers, which 

 are smaller than those of the Meadow Crane's-bill, but larger than the 

 blossom of the Dusky species. It is distinguished from the Meadow Crane's- 

 bill, not only by its smaller size, but also by its capsules, which are most 

 hairy about the keel, and by its stamens, Avhich are fringed about half-way 

 up. This species is particularly interesting because more than a hundred 

 years ago Konrad Sprengel, noticing the hairs on the claws of its petals, was 

 led to search out their purpose, and this started him upon those researches 

 into the relations of floAvers and insects which Charles Darwin and others in 

 our own day have so largely verified and extended. 



6. Mountain Cv a.ne' s-h\\\ {G. pyrendicum). — Stem erect, downy ; root- 

 leaves kidney -shaped, 5 — 7 lobed ; lobes oblong, blunt, 3-cleft, and toothed ; 

 petals notched, and twice as long as the pointed sepals. Plant perennial. 

 Although this species grows in many meadows and pastures, yet it is not a 

 common flower. Its stem is two or three feet high, and its numerous small 

 purple blossoms have their petals very distinctly 2-cleft. It has a spindle- 

 shaped root, while in all the former species the root consists of long fibres 

 arising from a premorse tap-root. 



7. Shining Crane's-bill {G. likidum). — Leaves nearly round, 5-lobed;' 

 sepals angular and wrinkled ; capsules with 3 keels, and wrinkled ; stems 

 spreading. Plant annual. The foliage and stems of this pretty species are 

 very smooth and glossy, and the lower leaves, which are smaller than the 

 upper ones, are often tinged with bright red. The stems are but a few 

 inches in height, swelling at the joints, and the elegant little rose-coloured 

 flowers expand in May, continuing in blossom till July. The plant is not 

 unconmion in hilly and mountainous countries, on rocks, walls, and roofs of 

 houses. Mr. Thompson remarks of this species, that it belongs especially to 

 lime districts, and seems not appropriate to basalt. Derbyshire, he says, 

 abounds with this plant. He also met with a luxuriant crop of it near 

 Warwick, where it was growing on a base of lime which was at a considerable 

 depth below the surface. 



