THE CONSTABLE. 27 



abundant; and so was the bog pimpernel, as, indeed, 

 we found it widely spread over the north end and 

 centre of the island. Mr Heaven mentioned his hav- 

 ing met with the much rarer blue pimpernel on some 

 former occasions ; but it did not occur to us. Among 

 the brake the wild hyacinth yet lingered in flower, 

 but was found more numerously in fruit. The dwarf 

 red-rattle, a lowly denizen of waste places, scarcely 

 rearing its rosy vaulted head above the level of the 

 moss in which it grows, occurred here, together with 

 its usual companion, the bird's-foot lotus. The small 

 upright St John's wort, an exquisite flower, the tiny 

 eyebright, and the milkwort of the rich blue variety, 

 were also among the plants we gathered here. 



But now we were approaching the scene which 

 had been the chief object of our curiosity. Near 

 the northern extremity of the island stands a huge 

 oblong block, like a square column, called the Con- 

 stable : we pass this, and the wondrous spectacle sud- 

 denly bursts upon us. Much as our expectations may 

 have been excited, they were in nowise disappointed ; 

 though my companions were not like myself natural- 

 ists proper, we were unanimous in declaring that the 

 sight was more than worth the voyage, sea-sickness 

 and all ; it was a scene, the witnessing of which must 

 always stand out prominently in memory, as one of 

 the remarkable things, of which an ordinary life can 

 reckon but few. 



We turn the corner of a pile of rocks, and we stand 

 in the midst of myriads of birds. We are on an in- 



