181 ' PROSKRPINA. 



inine, and neuter forms, us, a, urn, with these following 

 attached conditions. 



(i.) Those terminating in ( us,' though often of fem- 

 inine words, as the central Arbor, will indicate either real 

 masculine strength (quercus, laurus), or conditions 

 of dominant majesty (cedrus), of stubbornness and en- 

 during force (crataegus), or of peasant-like commonalty 

 and hardship (juncus) ; softened, as it may sometimes 

 happen, into gentleness and beneficence (thymus). The 

 occasional forms in 4 er ' and c il ' will have similar 

 power (acer, basil). 



(n.) Names with the feminine termination c a,'if 

 they are real names^of girls, w r ill always mean flowers 

 that are perfectly pretty and perfectly good (Lucia, 

 Viola, Margarita, Clarissa). Names terminating in < a ' 

 which are not also accepted names of girls, may some- 

 times be none the less honourable, (Primula, Campan- 

 ula,) but for the most part will signify either plants that 

 are only good and worthy in anursysort of way, (Salvia,) 

 or that are good without being pretty, (Lavandula,) or 

 pretty without being good, (Kalmia). But no name 

 terminating in ( a ' will be attached to a plant that is 

 neither good nor pretty. 



(m.) The neuter names terminating in ' um ' will 

 always indicate some pow r er either of active or sug- 

 gestive evil, (Conium, Solanum, Satyrium,) or a re- 

 lation, more or less definite, to death ; but this re- 

 lation to death may sometimes be noble, or pathetic, 



