138 FLOWERS OF THE FIELD AND FOREST. 



in our native floral domain, and nature does not repeat it in 

 even the brilliant colors of the autumn woods. As splendid and 

 as characteristic as this color is in the Cardinal-flower, it is said to 

 be not quite constant, but occasionally "sports" pink, white, and 

 even yellow. 



It is very common in New England, and is indeed distrib- 

 uted throughout the country east of the Rocky Mountains. It 

 always grows on low ground in marshes and by the side of 

 water-courses. It lines the banks of Taunton Great-River for 

 long distances, standing up to its middle in water at high tide, 

 and bending low and swaying heavily as the whelming waves 

 go over its head from the puffing, hurrying little steamers pass- 

 ing by. 



The splendid display and contrast of colors which a mass of 

 these flowers make by the side of a clear stream is very striking. 

 The green leaves of the trees are massed behind and above, the 

 grass below, and in the midst this blood-red flower, like tongues 

 of flame, reaching up, the blue sky overhead, and all repeated in 

 the glassy water beneath, make a picture not to be forgotten. 



The lines of Dr. Holmes give us a poetical interpretation of 

 some such scene. 



The Cardinal, and the blood-red spots, 



Its double in the stream; 

 As if some wounded eagle's breast, 



Slow throbbing o'er the plain. 

 Had left its airy path impressed 



In drops of scarlet rain. 



The Cardinal-flower grows from two to five feet high, and 

 remains in bloom from July to October, thus both by its size 



