THE 

 DWAKF THISTLE. 



C'tticus acaiilis. Nat. Ord., Componitee. 



<NY one familiar with the great 

 expanses of chalk down-land 

 so characteristic of the south 

 of England will scarcely have 

 failed' to notice the dwarf 

 thistles that dot them over 

 so abundantly. Even if they 

 have not perceived the crim- 

 son flower-heads nestling in 

 the short turf, which makes 

 a tempting resting-place, it is 

 more than possible that their 

 pleasant dream of rest has 

 been rudely dispelled by the 

 anguish created by putting 

 one's hand on the prickly 

 foliage, thickly spread over 

 the ground; and there is cer- 

 tainly no more practical way of appreciating the force 

 and point of the motto that accompanies the heraldic use 

 of the thistle as the national badge of Scotland " Nemo 

 me impune lacessit " no one trifles with me scathless. An 

 old writer thus discourses on the stinging nettle : " This 

 vexing vegetable of subtil acrimonious parts, are listed 

 under valiant Mars, who hath armed them with flaming 

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