RED 



honestly wish to study its structure, or to bring into our homes 

 for preservation a bit of the woods' loveliness, its interest and 

 beauty are sure to repay us. But how many pluck every strik- 

 ing flower they see only to toss it carelessly aside when they 

 reach their destination, if they have not already dropped it by 

 the way. Surely if in such small matters sense and self-control 

 were inculcated in children, more would grow up to the poet's 

 standard of worthiness : 



Hast thou named all the birds without a gun ? 



Loved the wood-rose and left it on its stalk? 



At rich men's tables eaten bread and pulse ? 



Unarmed, faced danger with a heart of trust f 



And loved so well a high behavior, 



In man or maid, that thou from speech refrained, 



Nobility more nobly to repay ? 



O, be my friend, and teach me to be thine ! * 



The name of columbine is derived from colomba a dove, but 

 its significance is disputed. Some believe that it was associated 

 with the bird-like claws of the blossom ; while Dr. Prior main- 

 tains that it refers to the " resemblance of its nectaries to the 

 heads of pigeons in a ring around a dish, a favorite device of 

 ancient artists." 



The meaning of the generic title is also doubtful. Gray de- 

 rives it from aquilegus water-drawing, but gives no further ex- 

 planation, while other writers claim that it is from aquila, an 

 eagle, seeing a likeness to the talons of an eagle in the curved 

 nectaries. 



WAKE ROBIN. BIRTHROOT. 



Trillium erecttim. Lily Family. 



Stem. Stout, from a tuber-like rootstock. Leaves. Broadly ovate, three 

 in a whorl a short distance below the flower. Flower. Single, terminal, 

 usually purplish-red, occasionally whitish, pinkish, or greenish, on an erect 

 or somewhat inclined flower-stalk. Calyx. Of three green spreading se- 

 pals. Corolla. Of three large lance-shaped petals. Stamens. Six. Pis- 

 til. One, with three large spreading stigmas. Fruit. A large, ovate, six- 

 angled reddish berry. 



This wake robin is one of the few self-assertive flowers of the 

 early year. Its contemporaries act as if somewhat uncertain as 



* Emerson. 

 216 



