WHIN AND BROOM 63 



This generous habit alone, but for its abundance, 

 would make it a favourite in the garden. As lief 

 imprison a little of the sunlight, or the blue of the 

 sea, when all that is needed is a window, or an eye 

 to let it in. 



Sometimes the hawthorn strives to cover itself 

 with white, but it seldom or never altogether 

 succeeds there is generally some bare spot left ; 

 whereas the broom will not rest from flowering 

 till every leaf is hidden away. This may well 

 have been the bush that burned " nee tamen con- 

 sumebatur." No wonder that it makes the scene 

 so bright, and gives a character to spring. 



Blossom, blossom, everywhere, until the very 

 bees thernselves are puzzled with the embarras 

 de richesse. The special mechanism for dusting 

 the insects back with pollen seems thrown away, 

 when the very weight, as it lights, seems sufficient 

 to bring down a yellow shower. The very atmo- 

 sphere surrounding the plant, even when undis- 

 turbed, is filled with pollen rain. 



The dark birds are dusted yellow as they pass out 

 from their nests. One requires no dusting. It is 

 probable that the head of the yellow-hammer has no 

 other meaning than the blue cap of the chaffinch, or 

 the light spot of the white-throat, and that the bird 



