I02 IRIS MISSOUKIENSIS. ROCKY MOUNTAIN IRIS. 



not certainly known. Iris was a true Copy of her Original ; she 

 was handsome, and had a noble Air ; and somewhat else in her 

 Carriage that spoke her Divine Original. 



"According to the good Custom of the Parents who seek noth- 

 ino- but the Advantage of their children, Thaumantias and Electra 

 made it their whole care to advance their Daughter and procure 

 her a Station worthy of her birth ; and at last, managed the 

 Matter so well, that Juno took her for her First Maid of Honour. 

 ''Iris indeed had but odd Cards to play, having to live in the 

 one House with Jupiter, who, as all the World knows, was a God 

 of an Unholy Character. But after all Iris lived there, and 

 remained a Model of every Virtue ; for she being sprung of such 

 Blood as hated every Species of Dishonor, carry'd herself so 

 steadily, that even the Sovereign of the Gods respected her. 



"Juno, prepossess'd with an opinion of the Girl's Discretion, 

 bestowed upon her, besides the place she had, the Office of receiv- 

 ing the Souls of dying Women, and conveying them to their 

 appointed Stations ; but this was not the only Favour she showed 

 to Iris; for, after that Iris had served her a litde while, she 

 resolved that she should not only appear in Heaven, but that a 

 flozver should grow upon the Earth that should bear her Name, 

 and be deck'd in imitation of her, with divers Colours. 



"In pursuance of this Resolution, the Goddess took a certain 

 Liquor, in which Iris blowed three times ; then shaking it again 

 and again in a litde Vessel, she gave it to her Waidng-Maid, 

 who, after applying it for a Moment to her Mouth, pour'd it upon 

 the Earth, where, as soon as it fell, up started a Flozver, that has 

 ever since gone by the Name of IrisT 



Most Irises of the United States are found at low elevations 

 and in damp situations; some few at elevations of one or two 

 thousand feet; but the present species. Iris Missourieusis, 

 grows in places high above the level of the sea and in districts 

 where rain seldom falls. The following, from Longfellow's 

 " Evangeline," exactly describes the location wherein our plant 

 is found — 



