io8 WILD FLOWERS OF SCOTLAND 



round-leaved pyrola. Thus, these fir, beech, and 

 oak trees cover over what, if exposed, would appear 

 as moor and marsh, and be found to contain a 

 fairly exhaustive representation of the characteris- 

 tic flowers of both. The sundew is the only notable 

 absentee. 



The creepies of the gipsies, or, rather, tinkers, 

 are visible on a bare place among the under-growth. 

 These not altogether uninteresting survivors of a 

 previous condition of existence, seem to have a 

 partiality for the old woods. Their knowledge of 

 the country is enviable, having been handed down 

 from generation to generation. Many a hint have 

 I got from seeing them turning up a pathway 

 which seemed to lead to nowhere. I marked that 

 way out for future investigation. 



The donkey is luxuriating on the richest grass 

 he can find, with an asinine contempt for absent 

 thistles and present whins. Your donkey is an 

 epicure, whatever people may say ; and if he some- 

 times eats coarse food, it is because he is a 

 philosopher as well, and takes what he can get 

 without grumbling. By what sweet stream-sides 

 and in what cool glades have I seen the gipsy's 

 donkey grazing, while ordinary donkeys had to 

 content themselves with the sparse dust-covered 



