148 WATER LILY. 



ously evolved from the leaves, and which 

 shine like diamonds in the sunbeams ; the 

 bright insects that sport around, and the 

 reflection of their flowers in the tranquil 

 mirror on which they frequently repose ! 

 But there are other things than these to 

 speak of, and to admire ; less obvious, in- 

 deed, but not less curious or less expressive 

 of His goodness who called the water-lily 

 into being. Those pure and ample petals, 

 which delight us by their beauty, are ar- 

 ranged like concave mirrors, white, and 

 highly burnished for the purpose of reflect- 

 ing the full power of the sunbeams on the 

 yellow stamens, and of counteracting the 

 effects that might otherwise result from the 

 humid atmosphere in which the lily grows. 

 The leaves too, how curious they are ! Un- 

 like those of land plants, the under surface 

 is more thickly coated tlian the upper, in 

 order to prevent their exquisite machinery 



