THE HEATH, MOOBLAND, AND MOUNTAIN. 173 



species, and is put to a variety of uses. The young 

 snoots were used in brewing, and it formed the High- 

 lander's bed. It roofs his shanty, tans his leather, 

 dyes his tartan, and catches his fish. The bees hum 

 over the bells, and the moor- cock feeds on its seeds. 

 Perhaps the Ling (Galluna vulgaris) is more common 

 than the other. It is the Heather of Scotland, where 

 it grows some two or three feet high. Its small leaves 

 are pressed close to the branches, and it has lighter 

 colour and smaller flowers than the heaths. 

 "Who does not know 



" The thyme strong scented 'neath one's feet, 

 And marjoram so doubly sweet " 1 



The Wild Thyme (TJiymus serpyllum) sheds its fra- 

 grance o'er many a mossy bank, and gives ease to 

 many an aching head when made into tea. As for the 

 odoriferous Marjoram (Qrigmum vulgare), its taller 

 stem is surmounted by a spike of purple flowers like 

 the thyme too, only there are larger floral leaves 

 amongst it. The sweet bags in our grandmothers' 

 drawers were redolent of marjoram and lavender. 



The Creeping Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans) creeps 

 amongst the grass, and shows its yellow flowers and 

 five-fingered leaves on the low-lying bushes ; and not 



