186 EBICACEJE. 



though. August is the legitimate month for the flowering of both. 

 This is the species which the poet depicts as singing : 

 " Where the wild bee comes with a murmuring song, 

 Pilfering sweets as he roams along, 



I uprear my purple bell : 

 Listening to the free-born eagle's cry, 

 Marking the heath-cock's glancing eye, 

 On the mountain side I dwell." 



Besides these plants were Ferns and Seeds of various kinds, 

 so that my basket became heavy enough to test the kindness of 

 my courteous friends. 



The Cornish Heath (E. vagans), is one of Fanny's trophies 

 from her beloved Lizard district. It carries its flowers in 

 whorls ; they are of a pink hue, and the brown stamens pro- 

 truding through the opening of the corolla give great expres- 

 sion to the plant. The barren tract of land from Helstone to 

 the Lizard Point is covered with this Heath, as thoroughly as 

 the land about Brimham !Rocks was with the Cross-leaved and 

 Purple species. The specimens were gathered late in August. 



She ought also to have found the Fringed Heath (E. ciliaris). 

 It has flowers in the axils of the leaves, and these clusters hang 

 to one side. I have seen a specimen, but could not beg it. 



The Mediterranean Heath is only found in Ireland. I fancy 

 it is one of Professor Forbes' twelve Spanish plants. 



I suppose that the Heaths so beloved in Scotland are the 

 Cross-leaved and Purple ones, as they are prevalent in the 

 north of England. The Highlanders thatch with them, and 

 the Picts used to make ale of the young shoots. A heap of 

 Heather is accounted a bed comfortable enough for a Highland 

 shepherd. Carrington alludes to this fact : 



" How many a vagrant wing-light waves around, 

 Thy purple bells, Erica ! Tis from thee 

 The hermit bird?, that love the desert, find 

 Shelter and food ; nor these alone delight 

 In the fresh Heath. Thy gallant mountaineers, 

 Auld Scotia, smile to see it spread immense 

 O'er their uncultured hills ; and at the close 

 Of the keen boreal day, the undaunted race 

 Contented on the rude Erica sink 

 To healing sleep." 



