December 211 



antenna; and three long hairs in the tail. They 

 glisten as if formed of silver, and their scales are 

 so fine and delicate as to be used as a test for 

 microscopic glasses. 



I have kept Lepiswce for months, feeding them 

 on cake and sugar until they became tame enough 

 to bear being looked at without fear. The Latin 

 name, Lepisma sacc/iarina, implies their preference 

 for sugar, although they indulge in other rather 

 diverse articles of diet, such as sweet cake, wall-paper, 

 book bindings and furniture coverings. 



They are often to be seen in damp libraries 

 running over books and papers, but they are so small 

 that I do not think much injury can be laid to 

 their charge. 



The Germans call these little creatures silver fishes, 

 a name which accurately describes their appearance. 



THE CHRISTMAS ROSE (Helleborus niger) 



The Christmas rose, which has come to cheer us 

 with its snow-white flowers, is an imported plant 

 from Southern Europe. Two species of hellebore 

 are, however, found growing wild in some parts of 

 England, though even they are not believed to be 

 truly indigenous. 



Helleborus foetidus is now flowering in my garden, 

 and is an interesting and rather showy plant, with 

 clusters of green bell-shaped flowers edged with 

 purple. 



Helleborus viridis is found on chalky soils, and has 

 also pale green flowers and dark green leaves. 



The species figured in the illustration is Helleborus 



