THE MEADOW-SAFFRON TRIBE. 67 



tribe, called White Hellebore,* is a nauseous and 

 dangerous plant, containing a peculiar principle 

 called veratria, which acts in a singular manner on 

 the nose, producing most violent sneezing when 

 taken as snuff in ever so small a quantity. It has 

 a similar irritating effect when taken into the 

 stomach, and a few grains tried on some of the 

 lower animals have been fatal." 



" Is it not very cruel to try the effect of poison 

 on cats and dogs ?" asked Henry. 



" Exceedingly cruel if it is done for mere sport 

 or curiosity ; but if there is a prospect of saving 

 human life by it, or of doing some important ser- 

 vice to mankind, then it is lawful and proper to 

 make experiments of this sort. But let us leave 

 this gloomy race of plants, and proceed to their 

 near neighbours, the more innocent and beautiful 

 lilies." 



" Is that a large tribe, papa ?" asked Mary. " I 

 can only think of five sorts, the tall white lilies, 

 and the orange-coloured, and the Turk's-cap, and 

 the trumpet, and the dear sweet little lilies of the 

 valley." 



" The LILY tribe," said her father, " is very ex- 

 * Veratrum album. 



