EIVER GARDENS; 



fish ; but it must be closely watched, as it is subject 

 to sudden decay when its treatment is uncongenial ; 

 in which case it should be removed from the colony 

 immediately. 



A group of the Iris pseud-acorus (Plate VIII^ 

 No. 4,) forms a handsome central object to a tank. 

 Its bright yellow flowers, in their season, being 

 very attractive. Its name, the Iris, or rainbow, 

 has been given to this tribe of plants on account of 

 the great variety of rich colours with which the 

 flowers of the different species are enriched; rang- 

 ing, as they do, from yellow and red to almost 

 every shade of blue and purple. The Frogbit, 

 the botanical title of which, Hydrocharis, signifies 

 "grace of the waters," is as elegant and beautiful 

 as its name implies. Its flowers, of a delicate 

 creamy white (see Plate III., No. 1), are deli- 

 cately reared just above the surface, from among 

 its purplish leaves, while its roots float down- 

 ward from the plant, like slender threads, moving 

 gently with the slightest agitation of the water. 

 It is strictly a floating plant. 



The Arrowhead is one of the handsomest of our 

 native plants/, both leaves and flowers being re- 

 markable; the shape of the former has, indeed, 

 given to it both its botanical and popular English 



