1859.] A DESCANT ON CREATION. 265 



Fragariastrum, Cardamine hirsutum, Ulex europeeus. Last 

 week. Ranunculus Ficaria, Mercwialis perennis, Braba ver- 

 na, lamium album. First week in March^ Ulmus major, U. 

 campestris, Alnus glutinosa, Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus, Cory- 

 dalis solida, Vinca minor. The following are some of our hardy- 

 native plants^ Flora's plebeians, that follow the spade and 

 plough, continue in flower the winter through, and some of them 

 through the whole year. Veronica hedercefolia, V. agrestis, spread 

 on the earth their little cerulean gems ; Lamium purpureum, Se- 

 necio vulgaris, provided for the linnet's winter repast ; Capsella 

 Bursa-Pastoris. Stellaria media, studs the cultured soil with its 

 nebula of tiny stars, of little magnitude, brilliant and cheering in 

 the winter solitude until Flora arrives in more gorgeous array. 



On each bright day, as winter wanes and spring begins to 

 dawn, — for fine the day will be, when far from its hive the re- 

 connoitring bee appears, exploring the woods, the meads, and 

 gardens, anxiously awaiting for the tardy flowers to open their 

 bosoms to refresh her with their ambrosial sweets. In the gar- 

 den the busy bee finds better fare; here the Crocus opens its 

 golden vase, and the Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite, or 

 Fair-Maids-of-February) presents its salver full of sweets, bidding 

 the weak and weary wanderer come and feed. It then surveys 

 the garden-wall to find the honeyed Prunuses in bloom, to it a 

 friendly flower. Being now well refreshed, it fast hurries home 

 before the sudden close of eve, to report the results of its mission. 



Ere long comes forth from its long nap the obstreperous 

 humble-bee, — arrived too soon for its favourite flower, Salix Ca- 

 prea, whicli is not yet in bloom, but it will not return without 

 some refreshment to appease its hunger. If it finds Helleborus 

 fcetidtcs, Daphne Laureola, with their yet unopened flowers, which 

 it surreptitiously unfolds, soon imbibes all their store, or plunges 

 into the weak corolla of the Crocus and bends it to the earth. 

 It sedulously labours late and early, wet am dry, to supply its 

 necessities. From the dawn of spring until the close of summer, 

 as the flowers come into bloom, the numerous tribes of insects 

 appear for their daily fare. 



The late-blooming Ivy afibrds them the last social banquet : 

 many die, others depart to their hibernaculum to repose until 

 the genial ray of spring bids them awake and come forth and 

 enjoy anew their ephemeral existence and continue their species. 



N. S. VOL. III. 2 M 



