A COMPOSITE FAMILY 247 



"The mischief of it is," he continued, ruefully, 

 picking up the bluebird, smoothing its feathers, and 

 setting it upon a shaded branch, while he shied a 

 stick at the invading sparrow, "both on 'm works 

 more hours a day than we do, and has more time 

 ter give ter holdin' on than we to rootin' and 

 drivin' 'em out. So naturally we can split our 

 throats a-provin' that they 'd orter go, but they 

 don't, all the same!" 



In late May and early June the fragrant Yellow 

 Thistles show their bristling leaves, which give a 

 hornet's sting to those that touch them, along the 

 edges of brackish marsh meadows. This Thistle 

 is an unpickable flower, but one that adds great 

 charm to the foreground of the meadow land- 

 scape, otherwise somewhat monotonous with its 

 straight -growing grasses, by weaving through it a 

 unique brocaded pattern of leaf and flower, that is 

 of infinite relief to the eye seeking in vain for 

 focus amid the blending colors of the unfenced 

 expanse. 



Next to the Dandelion and Ox-eye, the Thistles 

 are the Composites most constantly with us, for 

 their picturesque if mischievous flowers, represented 

 by the Field, Pasture, Swamp, Creeping, and Scotch 



