PURPLE SANDWORT. 27 



the quiet of the scene, how solemn, how ex- 

 hilarating are the feelings of the mind ! All 

 then is still, as regards the busy, bustling 

 concerns of men. But the hum of insects 

 is abroad, early birds start forth from their 

 coverts in woods and hedges, the gush of 

 the rill, wliich, although it never ceases, is 

 scarcely audible at a later hour, is now heard, 

 as it goes sounding on its pebbly bed, bor- 

 dered with ferns and flowers, while the night 

 breeze is still lingering among the bushes 

 with a pleasant rustle. 



Sandworts, whether stationed as the one 

 which Linnaeus added to the horologe of 

 Flora, on sandy plains or arid corn-fields, 

 whether gro\\ing on mountain-tops or by 

 the wood side, uniformly illustrate the beau- 

 tiful arrangement that prevails throughout 

 the vegetable kingdom. The sea-sandwort, 

 as its name indicates, is restrained to sandy 

 places on the coast, or to salt-water meadows. 



