10 SCARLET PIMPERNEL. 



the middle of the day, for within two or three 

 minutes of two o'clock it closes its petals, 

 which remain folded until about seven the 

 next morning. The botanical name is taken 

 from a Greek word, signifying, to laugh ; 

 because the ancient Greek writers believed it 

 to be a useful medicine in liver complaints, 

 and thus favourable to good and cheerful 

 spirits. Though it is not found, in our times, 

 to deserve this praise, yet its pleasant aspect 

 and love of sunshine render its name a suit- 

 able one. A large number of seeds are in- 

 closed in little capsules, which, when ripe, 

 bm'st open all round transversely, and the 

 seeds afford a valuable supply of food to many 

 of our song birds. There is a blue variety of 

 this Pimpernel, which, though rare in many 

 places, is very abundant in others, especially 

 in Gloucestershire; and sometimes we may 

 find a Pimpernel quite white, with a distinct 

 purplish-pink eye in the centre of the blossom. 

 There is also another species, a beautiful rose- 

 coloured flower, which grows on moist mossy 

 places, and is caUed the Bog Pimpernel. 



