V. BRUXELLA. 103 



festation of this character in the orders Contorta and 

 Satyrium. vol. i., p. 91, and the reader will find the 

 parallel aspects of the Draconidae dwelt upon at length 

 in the 86th and 87th paragraphs of the * Queen of the 

 Air,' where also their relation to the labiate group is 

 touched upon. But I am far more embarrassed by the 

 symbolism of that group which I called ' Vestales,' from 

 their especially domestic character and their serviceable 

 purity ; but which may be, with more convenience per- 

 haps, simply recognizable as 4 Menthae.' 



3. These are, to our northern countries, what the spice- 

 bearing trees are in the tropics ; our thyme, lavender, 

 mint, marjoram, and their like, separating themselves 

 not less in the health giving or strengthening character 

 of their scent from the flowers more or less enervating in 

 perfume, as the rose, orange, and violet, than in their 

 humble colours and forms from the grace and splendour 

 of those higher tribes ; thus allowing themselves to be 

 summed under the general word ' balm' more truly than 

 the balsams from which the word is derived. Giving 

 the most pure and healing powers to the air around 

 them ; with a comfort of warmth also, being mostly in 

 dry places, and forming sweet carpets and close turf; 

 but only to be rightly enjoyed in the open air, or indoors 

 when dried ; not tempting any one to luxury, nor ex- 

 pressive of any kind of exultation. Brides do not deck 

 themselves with thyme, nor do we wreathe triumphal 

 arches with mint. 



