BIRD'S-FOOT TREFOIL.— Zoto 



corniculatas. 



Class DiADELPHiA, OvcUr Decandria, Nat. Ord. Legumino3-;k. 

 Pea and Bean Tribe. 



The rich green verdure of the summer 

 meadow is everywhere brightened by this 

 pretty little blossom, which country children 

 call by the old familiar names of Lady's- 

 slipper, or Pattens-and-clogs. The ancient 

 Greek authors wTote much of the Lotus, but 

 it appears that they had three plants which 

 they called by that name. This, however, was 

 one. Several kinds of the Bird's-foot Trefoil 

 grow not only in the sunny meads of the 

 Greek Isles, but are abundant in most parts of 

 Southern Europe ; and the pods of one species, 

 which is much larger than our common plant, 

 are a useful article of diet among the poorer 

 inhabitants of Candia. The seeds of our native 

 species furnish food for birds only. This plant, 

 as well as another British kind, the Narrow- 

 leaved Bird's-foot Trefoil, is very useful for 

 making a permanent pasture for cattle, and is 

 sometimes sown with the white clover. The 



