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among others, and given to a small boy to take to a Sunday-school 

 treat, where, among other things, was a prize for the best bouquet 

 of wild flowers. I have no doubt the little fellow was immensely 

 proud of them, for you will find few such places for a bouquet of 

 wild flowers as Stainton Banks. But imagine his feelings when the 

 vicar, who, I believe, was presiding judge on the occasion, debarred 

 them as being garden flowers. 



Amongst the CompositvE we have the Yellow Goats-beard, which 

 may be seen in perfection on the Scar, and is a very handsome 

 flower when seen fully open '"neath the morning sun;" Jack 

 go-to-bed-at-noon is an old name for this plant, from its habit of 

 closing its petals at mid-day. Jack must certainly be lazier now 

 than he used to be, because I never remember seeing him awake 

 after ii a.m., and he often closes before that time. To this order 

 also belong the numerous families of Hawkbits, Cats Ears, Lettuces, 

 Sowthistles (one species too often seen in our cornfields), Hawk- 

 beards, and Hawkweeds, the latter a most puzzling family to make 

 out. Then come the Dandelions and the Nipplewort, the latter 

 common about our hedges, and remarkable in the spring for a very 

 beautiful microscopic fungus, in the form of a cluster cup. Burdock 

 is common with us, some splendid specimens may be seen about 

 Stainton. The seed capsules of this plant are covered with hooked 

 scales, and cling readily to anything they get hold of, by such 

 means getting widely distributed. Country lads know this of the 

 "burs," as they are called, and often make use of them to embellish 

 their friends' clothing. Shakspeare also knew it ; in Troilus and 

 Cressida he makes Pandarus say of his kindred, " Though they be 

 long ere they are wooed, they are constant being won : they are 

 burs I can tell you ; they'll stick where they are thrown." 



Nowhere as on Kingmoor and in the wood will you find such 

 fine specimens of the Saw-wort. It is an autumn flowering plant, 

 and it looks like a small purple thistle. Of the Thistles themselves, 

 many of them are common — too common — everywhere ; and I 

 think we have nothing close at hand worth particular notice. The 

 Black Knapweed is common, and is often known by the name of 

 "Horseknops;" it is greatly used in the feeding of certaifi cage 



