PASQUE-FLOWER. 185 



borne upwards by the wind. " Zephyrs," 

 said he, " are sporting on the plain and 

 pursuing the thistle's beard." 



Flowers delight the eye with their con- 

 struction or their beauty ; but not less in- 

 teresting are the capsules of different plants, 

 treasuring up the future riches of the ve- 

 getable kingdom, and placed on footstalks, 

 that they may be the more exposed to the 

 action of the wind. And in these, what 

 infinite variety ! Some are barrel-shaped, 

 others are like octagon boxes, a few are 

 egg-shaped, some are round, and covered 

 with lids ; others, again, may be compared 

 to a balloon with its boat attached. The 

 seed-vessel of the common poppy resem- 

 bles a Roman urn, and it is more than pro- 

 bable that the forms of many ancient vessels, 

 such as pitchers and goblets, may have been 

 suggested by differently shaped capsules. 

 When the rich crimson petals begin to 



