A LIVEL Y ANIMAL. 169 



pink blossoms and three-lobed leaves, which, from their 

 fancied resemblance to the form of the liver, procured the 

 plant its English name of liverwort; the Flos Adonis, or 

 pheasant's eye, the goutte-de-sang of the French, so called 

 because the ancients fabled that it sprang from the blood 

 of Adonis, when wounded by the bear; the marsh mari- 

 gold ; the gay and vivacious larkspur ; the deadly wolfs- 

 bane, or aconite, which secretes so potent a poison ; and 

 the aromatic love-in-a-mist, or French flower.* 



B. ANIMALS. 



Under the soft moss, under the stones, in all localities where 

 mouldiness is easily developed, under the closed doors of 

 cellars, you must certainly have more than once observed 

 a tiny creature of the form of a horse-bean, of a gray leaden 

 colour, and supplied with a considerable number of feet. This 

 last characteristic will induce you immediately to abandon the 

 idea that you have before you an insect. 



Catch hold of it, and count its feet. 



Well said ; but it runs much more quickly than I would have 

 suspected from its previously dilatory movements. 



Because it knows that danger threatens it, instinct impels 

 it to escape at its utmost speed. Do not be afraid to handle 

 it ; the poor creature can do you no harm. 



* The seeds of the latter are used in the East, where they are more 

 pungent than in our cold climates, instead of pepper. " They are thought 

 to be the cummin alluded to in Scripture, where our Saviour reproved 

 the Pharisees for their singularity in minor things, and their neglect of 

 important duties." 



