- 99 1927, 
PREEACE 
HE present work is not intended for botanists, 
but for unscientific flower-lovers. It makes no 
pretence to enabling the reader to identify the 
plants noticed in his rambles; but, having identified 
them by other aids, the following pages, it is hoped, 
will invest them with greater interest by calling 
his attention to those details of their structure or 
behaviour which suggest the term romance. 
Much of what is said in respect of the origin of 
certain forms is obviously mere conjecture, but the 
author believes that his presentation of the facts 
upon which these conjectures are based, is such that 
the reader will not be misled into attaching a higher 
value to the latter than they merit. Neither does 
the writer claim originality for these attempts to 
indicate the probable significance of organs; on the 
contrary, he would take this opportunity to acknow- 
ledge his many obligations to Darwin, Grant Allen, 
Henslow, Lubbock, Miiller, Ogle, and others, who 
have in recent years done so much to invest our 
flowering plants with a romantic charm of which 
the botanist of a generation or two back never 
dreamed. 
5 
