218 ERICACE^ 



extremely profuse in the northern countries. Linnseus mentions, in his 

 "Flora Lapponica," that in some districts through which he travelled scarcely 

 any plant was seen save the Heather, which so covered the ground as to 

 render its extirpation impossible. The country people had, he says, an idea 

 that there were two plants which would finally overrun and destroy all the 

 earth : these were Heather and tobacco. 



The caterpillar of the great egger moth (Bombyx quercus) feeds on the 

 foliage of the Ling, and the branches afford shelter to grouse and other 

 birds of the moorland, while they, as well as the birds of song, find many a 

 meal in the seeds, which, well secured in their little seed-vessels, remain long 

 on the plant. Sheep and goats sometimes browse on the Heath and Ling, 

 and the latter is commonly made into brooms. It is said that several High- 

 land lairds derive no small proportion of their revenues from the Heather, 

 which is sold throughout the kingdom when made up into these domestic 

 implements. The turf with the heath growing upon it is often cut up and 

 dried for the winter fuel of the cottager, or is pulled up for heating ovens, 

 and for immediate use. Eobert Nicholls, who in early days was wont to 

 pull the Ling to add to the comforts of the Scottish home, thus records the 

 simple pleasure of the Heather-gathering : — 



" I like to pu' the Heather, " I like to pu' the Heather 



We're aye sae mirthful, where Where harmless lambkins run. 



The sunshine creeps atour the crags Or lay them down beside the burn 



Like ravell'd golden hair : Like gowans in the sun ; 



Where on the hill tap we can stand Where ilka foot can tread upon 



Wi' joyful heart I trow, The Heath-flower wet wi' dew, 



And mark ilk grassy bank and holm When comes the starmie o'er the hill 



As we the Heather pu'. While we the Heather pu'." 



3. Menziesia (MenziSsia). 



1. Scottish Menziesia {M. ccerulea). — Leaves numerous, scattered, 

 linear, minutely toothed ; flower-stalks covered with glandular hairs ; flowers 

 5-cleft, and with 10 stamens, forming terminal tuf ts j perennial. This is a 

 small branched shrub, naked below, but very leafy above, and bearing, in 

 June and July, large beautiful cup-shaped flowers of pale purplish-blue. It 

 is common in North America, but rare in this kingdom, having been found 

 on the Sow of Athol, in Perthshire, whence it is said to have been almost 

 extirpated. By some authors this species is placed in the small genus 

 Phyllodoce. 



2. Irish Menziesia, or St. Dabeoc's Heath (71/. polifdlia). — Leaves 

 egg-shaped, with the margins rolled back, white and downy beneath ; corolla 

 4-cleft ; stamens 8 ; perennial. This shrub bears, in July and August, 

 terminal leafy one-sided clusters of most beautiful large flowers, usually of a 

 purple colour, but sometimes of wax-like whiteness, which hang drooping on 

 short stalks. The bushy stems are about one or two feet long, and become 

 prostrate after a time. It grows, though rarely, on some mountainous heaths 

 of Ireland, and is abundant in Connemara. This species constitutes the 

 genus Dabeocia of D. Don, under which name some writers describe it. 



