52 THE BOOK OF THE OPEN AIR 



as it were of scales like teeth (whereof Bethlehem ; the variegated Simethis 

 it tooke his name) of a dusty shining found some years ago near Bourne- 

 colour tending to purple." It is a mouth ; and the fragrant Maianthe- 

 rare plant, and withal difficult to find, mum, or May-lily, abundant and pro- 

 haunting chiefly the deep recesses of bably indigenous in one locality in 

 the woods, and easily escaping notice Yorkshire. But other species, not 

 among the fallen leaves. But parasite less beautiful, may be found during 

 though it is, the Toothwort possesses the month of May in comparative 

 a remarkable power of maintaining plenty. Allusion has already been 

 its position on the same spot for a long made to the Bluebell, one of the corn- 

 number of years. Towards the end monest and most charming of our 

 of the sixteenth century Gerarde found May flowers : to the same Order 

 it " growing in a lane called East-lane belong the Lily-of-the- valley, the ex- 

 on the right hand as ye go unto Cockes quisite Vernal Squill so abundant 

 Heath " : the flesh-coloured spikes in places on the sea-cliffs at Cornwall 

 came up this spring on the exact spot and South Pembrokeshire, the Fritil- 

 where the old herbalist found it. lary or Snake's-Head, the Wild Tulip, 

 John Ray recorded it as " growing in the Grape Hyacinth, the Herb Paris, 

 a shady Lane not far from Barking and Solomon's Seal. 

 in Surrey, plentifully " : the plant This latter plant (Polygonatum mul- 

 still flourishes in the same locality. tifiorum), one of the most graceful 

 The Liliaceae, or Lily-tribe, would species in the British flora, is common 

 doubtless be considered by many people in many of our Hampshire woods, 

 as the most attractive Order of British Its English name, Solomon's Seal, 

 plants. It numbers among its mem- recalls the quaint belief, general among 

 bers many rare and interesting species, our forefathers, in the " doctrine of 

 some of which, because of their beauti- signatures." This curious fancy is 

 f ul flowers, are often cultivated in our thus stated in a scarce herbal of the 

 gardens. Among its choicest members sixteenth century entitled " The Art 

 may be mentioned the exquisite Moun- of Simpling " : " Though sin and 

 tain Lloydia, frequently met with Satan have plunged mankind into an 

 in the Alps, but in Great Britain con- ocean of infirmities, yet the mercy of 

 fined to the rocky ledges of the God, which is over all His workes, 

 Snowdon range ; the yellow Star of maketh grasse to growe upon the 



