10 PROSERPINA. 



its singularity than for its extent or importance, for the 

 family is a very small one, and there are but few species 

 belonging to it in which much interest is taken. As 

 the parts of the Heartsease are larger than those of the 

 Yiolet, let us select the former in preference for the 

 subject of our study." Whereupon we plunge instantly 

 into the usual account of things with horns and tails. 

 " The stamens are five in number two of them, which 

 are in front of the others, are hidden within the horn of 

 the front petal," etc., etc., etc. (Note in passing, by the 

 ' horn of the front ' petal he means the i spur of the bot- 

 tom' one, which indeed does stand in front of the rest, 

 but if therefore it is to be called the front petal 

 which is the back one ?) You may find in the next par- 

 agraph description of a " singular conformation," and 

 the interesting conclusion that " no one has yet discov- 

 ered for what purpose this singular conformation was 

 provided." But you will not, in the entire article, find 

 /lie least attempt to tell you the difference between a 

 violet and a pansy ! except in one statement and that 

 false ! a The sweet violet will have no rival among 

 flowers, if we merely seek for delicate fragrance ; but 

 her sister, the heartsease, who is destitute of all sweet- 

 ness, far surpasses her in rich dresses and gaudy \ ! ! 

 colours." The heartsease is not without sweetness. 

 There are sweet pansies scented, and dog pansies un- 

 scented as there are sweet violets scented, and clog 

 violets unscented.. What is the real difference ? 



