172 WILD FLOWERS OF SCOTLAND 



These, with their varieties, prefer the milder 

 conditions of the west of Ireland and the south 

 of England ; and their affinities are with southern 

 rather than with northern species. Thus the ling 

 of the arctic lowlands, and the vast profusion of the 

 Cape of Good Hope, represent the two extremes. 



All this has been said in the interests of exact- 

 ness, and with no intention of destroying illusions 

 which I most fervently share. There is still 

 enough heather in the Highlands, both for man 

 and grouse. 



Long may it be before the search for the white 

 sprig ceases to put the pink of the blossom into 

 the pale cheeks of maidens, and the vision of the 

 purple, even though it actually reveal itself nearer 

 home, lure men " north again." 



Long may the holiday seeker already half 

 recuperated by the prospect from his corner in 

 " The Flying Scotsman," cry gaily to envious friends 

 on the platform, " For the heather ! " 



Even if there is not much that is new in her 

 rose or purple or pink, Scotland has still an un- 

 approachable background against which to present 

 them. Never heather on the plain looked like 

 this. 



The sun has long dropped out of sight, and the 



