94 GREAT WHITE WATER-LILY. 



may be adopted of imbedding the seeds in balls of 

 earthy matter, the weight of which settles them at 

 the bottom. 



It is a remarkable circumstance, which every one 

 who has seen this Lily in her native waters must have 

 remarked, that, however plentiful the plant may be 

 upon a sheet of water or a stream, it never extends 

 its foliage or its flowers, even under the most favour- 

 able circumstances, within a certain distance of the 

 dry land, ceasing to grow where the water lessens 

 in depth. Nature thus places the blossom out of the 

 reach of many an admirer, and even sometimes tempt- 

 ingly tries the ardour of the more adventurous bota- 

 nist. This circumstance reminds us of a pleasing 

 story "no fable" which Cowper tells of his ad- 

 ventures one day with a Water-Lily, on the river 

 Ouse; and we dare say the reader will be glad to 

 have the anecdote in the poet's own words : 



" The noon was shady, and soft airs 



Swept Ouse's silent tide, 

 When, 'scaped from literary cares, 

 I wander'd on his side. 



My spaniel, prettiest of his race, 



And high in pedigree 

 (Two nymphs adorn'd with ev'ry grace, 



That spaniel found for me), 



Now wanton'd lost in flags and reeds, 



Now starting into sight, 

 Pursued the swallow o'er the meads, 



With scarce a slower flight. 



