132 WILD FLOWEES OF SUMMEB. 



which the umbel presents as the flowers fade. The 

 stalks all turn inwards until they form a sort of cup 

 or bird's nest. This and the upright Hedge Parsley 

 are the " kecksies " of the Midland shires, though it 

 appears that the stems of other umbelliferous plants 

 have been called kex. The Shepherd's Needle, or 

 Venus Comb (Scandix pectiii), is a well-known and 

 pretty plant. No one who has ever seen its singular 

 cluster of long pointed seed-vessels could forget it. 

 It does not grow more than six or eight inches high, 

 and there is little in its finely-cut leaves and white 

 umbels to distinguish it from other plants belonging 

 to the same family. The Hedge Parsley and Fool's 

 Parsley ((Ethusa cynapmni) are also common on the 

 field borders, but are scarcely attractive to the most 

 ardent lover of " Nature's wildings." 



The stubble fields, however, show that summer is 

 closing, and that autumn has begun to gather in her 

 rich fruits of the year. 



