IN THE MEADOWS AND PASTUBES. 169 



butter. Its virtues, real and alleged, were numerous 

 enough, and it received its name "clary" from the 

 seeds being used to clear the eye. A much rarer species 

 is the Meadow Sage (Salvia pratensis). It is easily 

 distinguished from all adjoining plants by the bright 

 purple flowers, wrinkled leaves, and sage-like odour. 

 It is frequently cultivated, but it is not common in a 

 wild state in this country. 



Now, whilst the mowers are whetting their scythes, 

 and the fragrant smell of the hay fills the summer air, 

 let us sit on the haycock, and glance at the flowers 

 around us. The Germander Speedwell is yet in bloom, 

 and its bright blue blossoms contrast gaily with the 

 yellow Lady's Slipper or Bird's-foot Lotus {Lotus cor- 

 niculatus), which is common on all grass lands. This 

 is a species of trefoil, which has umbellate butterfly- 

 shaped blossoms of a rich golden hue. The half-open 

 buds, and sometimes the flowers, are tinged with crim- 

 son. It has a little leaf at the top of the flower-stalk. 

 In general appearance it is not much unlike its neigh- 

 bour the Kidney Yetch (Anthyllis vulnerarid), which, 

 however, has its yellow flowers set in a woolly cup. 

 Children call the plant lambs' toes and ladies' fingers. 

 The pale blue-green leaflets, which are hairy and 



