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NE of the most imposing and 
stately of our native plants is the 
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), 
especially when this is seen 
growing in hundreds over some 
sloping bank or up the face of an escarpment. These 
are really its favourite haunts, for it is fond of light, 
well-drained soils; and the flower-lover who comes 
upon such a Foxglove show. will not feel that his 
country is poor in flowers of striking appearance. 
Most persons gazing on such a sight would probably 
be astonished to learn that it is to the humble-bees 
we are chiefly indebted for the display. It is for 
their accommodation that these flowers have their 
peculiar form, the drooping attitude, and the strange 
position of the stamens and pistil. 
We cannot long stand before a clump of Foxgloves 
on a bright day without hearing a contented buzzing, 
and seeing a burly black-and-orange-banded humble- 
bee flying from flower to flower, commencing at the 
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