THE SHINING CRANE'S-BILL AND RAGGED ROBIN. 115 



very conspicuous angles at their lines of contact. Three 

 of the sepals differ somewhat in form from the remaining 1 

 two. 



Though at times found in the hedgerow, the natural 

 habitat of the shining crane's-bill is on dry and stony 

 wastes, rocks, and old stone walls, its large masses of 

 shining green or glowing crimson foliage and its small 

 pink blossoms being a beautiful covering to the rugged grey 

 stones that give them support. It is generally distributed, 

 but seems to prefer either a chalk district or a hilly and 

 mountainous tract of country. Several other species of 

 the same genus, and all familiarly known as crane's-bills, 

 may be found. With the exception of one by no means 

 common species, all agree in one conspicuous point : the 

 flower-stem, or peduncle, bears at its summit two lesser 

 stalks, or pedicles, and each of these is surmounted by a 

 flower. This feature, though not absolutely peculiar to 

 the crane's-bills, will practically be found of great service 

 as a means of identifying them; for though it does not 

 quite follow that any unknown plant having its flowers in 

 pairs is a crane's-bill, there is at least a presumption in 

 favour of the idea, while the fact of its inflorescence not 

 being of this character is virtually almost sufficient to 

 prove that it cannot belong to this genus of plants. The 

 following species are, from their commonness, most likely 

 to be met with : the G. molle, or dove's-foot crane's-bill, 

 and the cut-leaved geranium, or G. dissectum. The first 

 of these is called in France the pled-de-pigcon ; both 

 this and the English name are based on the form of the 

 leaf, though the resemblance does not strike us as being at 

 all obvious. In both species the flowers are small, and not 

 very brilliant purple in tint. 



