128 PROSERPINA. 



13. Farther : the terminations of the Latin family names 

 will be, for the most part, of the masculine, feminine, and 

 neuter forms, us, a, um, with these following attached condi- 

 tions. 



(i.) Those terminating in 'us,' though often of feminine 

 words, as the central Arbor, will indicate either real masculine 

 strength (quercus, laurus), or conditions of dominant majesty 

 (cedrus), of stubbornness and enduring force (crataegus), or 

 of peasant-like commonalty and hardship (juncus) ; softened, 

 as it may sometimes happen, into gentleness and beneficence 

 (thymus). The occasional forms in ' er ' and * il ' will have 

 similar power (acer, basil). 



(IL) Names with the feminine termination ' a,' if they are 

 real names of girls, will always mean flowers that are perfectly 

 pretty and perfectly good (Lucia, Viola, Margarita, Clarissa). 

 Names terminating in ' a J which are not also accepted names 

 of girls, may sometimes be none the less honourable, (Pri- 

 mula, Campanula,) but for ihe most part will signify either 

 plants that are only good and worthy in a nursy sort of way, 

 (Salvia,) or that are good without being pretty, (Lavandula,) 

 or pretty without being good, (Kalmia). But no name ter- 

 minating in ' a ' will be attached to a plant that is neither 

 good nor pretty. 



(m.) The neuter names terminating in ' um ' will always in- 

 dicate some power either of active or suggestive evil, (Conium. 

 Solanum, Satyrium,) or a relation, more or less definite, to 

 death ; but this relation to death may sometimes be noble, or 

 pathetic, " which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the 

 oven, " Lilium. 



But the leading position of these neuters in the plant's 

 double name must be noticed by students unacquainted with 

 Latin, in order to distinguish them from plural genitives, 

 which will always, of course, be the second word, (Francesca 

 Fontium, Francesca of the Springs.) 



14. Names terminating in 'is' and 'e/ if definitely names 

 of women, (Iris, Amaryllis, Alcestis, Daphne,) will alwaj's 

 signify flowers of great beauty, and noble historic association. 

 If not definitely names of women, they will yet indicate 



