PLANTS AND ANIMALS. 14$ 



the jasmine type, so strong as to be quite sickly, 

 and anon one of those half-aromatic scents which 

 almost exhilarates. Where they come from or 

 to what tree they belong it is impossible to say 

 perhaps they are being distilled by a tree close to 

 the bank, or it may be by one of which we know 

 nothing, a quarter of a mile away. 



Perhaps the most interesting point in connection 

 with these perfumes is that they are distilled at 

 certain times, and then only for short periods. 

 Sometimes the flower opens, carries on its work 

 for an hour or two, and then closes, either 

 altogether, or in a few cases, to repeat the process 

 at the same hour next day. These latter are, how- 

 ever, the exceptions ; as a rule the flowers remain 

 open, but apparently quiescent, until the time 

 comes round to resume work. This is beautifully 

 exemplified in certain orchids, and sometimes 

 causes great disappointment to their owners. 

 Perhaps you have been telling a friend of the 

 delicious perfume of Burlingtonia fragrans ; that 

 it brought to your memory a pretty lane in the 

 old country, where as a child you used to go and 

 smell out the sweet violets when they were so hidden 

 among the leaves that you could hardly find them 

 otherwise. " Come along ! " you say, and take 

 him to the flower. " Is it not delicious ? Does 



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