FORGET-ME-NOT. 203 



Society. It further relates that the dried leaves of the plant 

 held near a candle will produce a flash of light. 



The Small Bugloss (Lycopsis arvensis), is a less interesting 

 plant, with smaller leaves, and comparatively inconspicuous 

 blue flowers. The great peculiarity of the blossom is that 

 the tube is bent to one side. It grows on the same cliffs at 

 East Looe, and in fields near Warminster, Wilts. 



JXow for the favourite family of all the Scorpion-grasses, or 

 Forget-me-nots. 



The prettiest member of the family, the Water Scorpion- 

 grass (Myosotis paliistris, Plate XIII., jig. 1), is the true For- 

 get-me-not. We never see this lovely flower by the lake or 

 quiet stream without remembering the sad story of the devoted 

 knight, who daring too much to procure the lightest wish of 

 his lady, found the stream too strong for him, and had only 

 power to throw his dearly-bought prize to the shore ere he 

 sank beneath the water. Well was the flower named Forget- 

 me-not, for whenever its turquoise gems are seen, the story of 

 that lover is related. Earle Colne details a pretty dialogue with 

 this flower : 



" Flower of the modest eye 



Tell me, who love you well, 

 Whence comes your brilliant dye? 

 Why stores your honey-cell ? 



" Who built your turquoise- cup, 



Its garlanding of green ? 



Who glossed its inner parts 



With such golden sheen ? 



Oh ! sweet-eyed flow'ret tell me, 



For my soul doth long to know, 

 How you woo our hearts to love you 



More than flowers of brighter glow." 



" There dwells a look in my gentle bloom, 

 That whispers to hearts of the happy home 



A good man ne'er forgot; 

 And because it resembles the kindly eye, 

 Which never met ours but with sympathy, 

 They have called it Forget-me-not." 



The flowers grow in curled clusters, destitute of leaves. 



