Il8 CCMMELYNA VIRGINICA. COMMON DAY-FLOWER, 



visit it in its native places, and study it in connection with all its 

 surroundings. In these situations it often gives a charm to the 

 aspects of nature that is almost indescribable. One such spot on 

 the Wissahickon near Philadelphia is now in the writers' mind, 

 Iresh and vivid, though it is years since the picture was painted 

 there. The narrow path had been worn so deep by the rains of 

 ages that a bank of many feet high lined its sides. Naked rocks 

 projected from the banks here and there ; and ferns, grasses, and 

 flowering plants lovingly strove to cover them. At the top were 

 Red Maples, Dogwoods, and Hornbeams, which made a partial 

 shade, but did not wholly screen the sun from the earth at the 

 base of the bank, where, and by the path's side, the litde "day- 

 flower" struggled up, — now roodng in the ground to hold itself, — 

 now hanging its branches from the rocks, — gaining continually in 

 its struggle upwards, but growing so luxuriantly and seeming 

 so happy in its gains ! Day by day, the little blue flowers came 

 out to cheer and encourage the plant in its work, — just opening, 

 smiling approvingly, and then sinking at once to rest. 



" The dew siole up 

 From the fresh daughters of the enrth, and heat 

 Came like a sleep upon the delicate leaves, 

 And bent them with the blossoms to iheir dreams," 



as in the days when, according to Willis, Abraham went forth to 

 make his fearful sacrifice. In the morning, before the dew has 

 wholly stolen away, and in the months of July and August, is the 

 time to see it at its best. Then the blue flowers are most numer- 

 ous. Sometimes as much as one-fourth of the whole green bed 

 of foliage is bedecked with the coerulean blue. 



But the child of science will find abundant interest in it inde- 

 pendently of the beauty it affords. In our description we have 

 adopted Dr. Darlington's sketch, because it agrees so remarkably 

 with our drawing, which is also from a Pennsylvanian plant, though 

 he has not described it under its present name. Dr. Darling- 

 ton says: "I have specimens from the South of C. angustifolia 

 with really narrow lance-linear leaves; yet ours with its lanceolate 



