June — Goldfinch, 2 1 3 



curious that the thistle, which we so generally associate 

 with donkeys, should have given, in one language at 

 least, its name to that sweet singing-bird which, ac- 

 cording to Chaucer, had a singing conversation with 

 the nightingale — the goldfinch ; in French, chardonneret, 

 from ckardon, because it frequents the thistle. The 

 plant may also be associated with the fine arts, as 

 its spiky forms are peculiarly rich and interesting in 

 certain kinds of decorative drawing and silversmiths' 

 work. They are excessively difficult to draw, from 

 the complicated perspectives of the prickly wings on 

 the leaf-margins. Few artists have ever drawn a thistle 

 thoroughly, probably from a feeling that any complete 

 rendering of such a plant would lead to hardness in 

 execution. 



Of the large plants which flower late the lime-tree 

 deserves special mention, for its agreeable qualities 

 as a shade-giving tree, and its pleasant color and 

 odor. Few trees are more intimately connected with 

 human life than this. It is so constantly used to shade 

 private and public walks, that most of us have re- 

 collections associated with it. The lime has also its 

 heroic traditions. It has never supplied masts for 

 war-ships like the fir, nor material for their strong 

 hulls like the oak, but it was used in ancient times 

 for bucklers ; and its bark must have had a sacred 

 character, as it was worn by sacrificing priests. The 

 flower of the lime-tree is gathered in great quantities 

 for medicinal purposes, and administered very exten- 

 sively in France as an infusion. 



