Popular Studies of California Wild Ploivers 59 



about San Francisco and Oakland. This blue violet is the one from 

 which perfume is manufactured. It came originally from Asia, but 

 was improved in Europe. 



The Pine Violet, Viola lob at a, is common in the coast moun- 

 tains north of San Francisco. Its yellow and purple blossoms 

 furnish a joy of the out-of-doors when found carpeting the shaded 

 woods. 



The Western Heart's Ease is to be found in the Redwood dis- 

 trict and in the shady woods of the Coast Range. It has two upper 

 white petals, violet purple on the outside ; the other petals are white, 

 and the lateral with a deep purple spot at the base, which probably 

 gave it the specific name in science, V. ocellata, which means "spot- 

 ted with little eyes." It certainly merits its more popular name, 

 "Heart's Ease," for the comforting presence of these shy exquisites 

 thickly sown amid the ferny carpets of the wooded hills lend a joy 

 to the out-of-doors such as more showy but less loved blossoms are 

 unable to give. 



Herrick called violets "Maids of Honor to the Spring," and 

 they seem to find a place to proclaim her presence everywhere, for 

 they grow in the small crevices of the towering cliffs on the high 

 Sierras and over the open fields near the coast and in the depths 

 of the shady woods. Some may be found growing in open spaces 

 among the sagebrush of the drier and more arid regions, in moist 

 places and in dry spots. 



Lord Byron sang: 



"The morning star of all the flowers. 

 The pledge of daylight's lengthen d hours. 

 And 'mid the roses, ne'er forget 

 The virgin, virgin violet." 



