vi LETTERS TO MARCO 39 



only the worst of flower-painting is that no 

 pigment comes the least like nature, whilst 

 the flowers keep moving and altering every 

 instant as you paint. Do you know the 

 parrot tulips ? in colour and quaint form these 

 surpass all ; some I have of exquisite feathery 

 grace, quite Venetian in colour, with dusky 

 gray and golden streaks on red grounds of 

 various shades, from bright orange to deep 

 scarlet lake. 



Gerard says of the tulip that it is named 

 after the " Dalmatiane or Turke's cap, called 

 Tulipan, Tolepan, Turban, and Turfan," and 

 that it is a flower " with which all studious 

 and painefull Herbarists desire to be better 

 acquainted with, because of that excellent 

 diversitie of most brave flowers which it 

 beareth." 



G. D. L. 



