144 BIRDS AND MAN 



is greatest when this colour (as in the human face) is 

 placed side by side or fades into some shade of red or 

 pink. I think we may see this even in a small 

 flower like the fumitory, in which one portion is 

 deep purple and all the rest of the blossoms a deli- 

 cate pink. Even when the red is very intense, 

 as in the common field poppy, the pleasing ex- 

 pression of purple on red is very evident. 



To return to pure reds. We may say that just 

 as purples in flowers look best, or have a greater 

 degree of expression, when appearing in or with 

 reds, so do the most delicate rose and pink shades 

 appeal most to us when they appear as a tinge or 

 blush on white flowers. Probably the flower that 

 gives the most pleasure on account of its beautiful 

 flesh-tints of different shades is the Gloire de 

 Dijon rose, so common with us and so universal a 

 favourite. Roses, being mostly of the garden, are 

 out of my line, but they are certainly glorious to 

 look at — glorious because of their associations, 

 their expression, whether we know it or not. One 

 can forgive Thomas Carew the conceit in his lines — 



Ask me no more where Jove bestows 

 When June is past, the fading rose, 

 For in your beauty's orient deep 

 These flowers as in their causes sleep. 



