162 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. 



genus Viola are enumerated by Professor Eaton as indigen- 

 ous to North America. I have seen one or two specimens 

 of a delicate^ lowly little flower, whose blossoms, hanging 

 from a stem of about six inches in height, bear a resem- 

 blance to tiny pairs of breeches. They are white, the upper 

 part or mouth of the corolla tinged with yellow (Corydalia 

 Cucullaria), I was at a loss at first to find its leaves ; for 

 on breaking off the flower close to the earth, no leaves were 

 attached to it : the fact is, the leaves spring directly from the 

 root, and they are connected with the flower-stalk beneath 

 the surface. They are pinnatifid, the lobes irregularly in- 

 cised. A very common and humble plant is likewise in 

 flower, the Dandelion (Leontodon Taraxacum) ; though 

 despised, the blossom is pretty. 



C — What is the origin of the name, dandelion ? 



F. — The word was originally Dent-de-lion, that is, lion's 

 tooth, the leaves being cut into curved teeth, pointing back- 

 ward. The generic name signifies the same thing; this 

 form of the leaf is called runcinate. In Newfoundland, the 

 leaves of the dandelion are much sought after in spring, as a 

 culinary vegetable ; their taste, when boiled, is peculiar, but 

 agi'eeable to many persons, and as this is the first eatable 

 vegetable that appears, the meadows and fields are fre- 

 quented at this season by boys and girls, who in cutting up 

 the plant with knives, cut up a great deal of the grass also, 

 and do considerable mischief. Here it is not eaten. 



C. — The plum trees are one mass of blossoms ; let us look 

 at them and enjoy their perfume. How loud the bees are 

 humming amongst them ! 



F, — That is not the humming of bees ; look attentively, 

 and you will see a novelty. 



C. — Ha ! there is what I have long wished to see, a 

 humming-bird sucking the flowers. There are two of them : 

 let us take a closer view of them. 



