LOCALITY AND NATURE. 



By the side of the rivers of Exmoor there grows a great 

 leaf, so large it almost calls to mind those tropical leaves 

 of which umbrellas and even tents are made. This is 

 of a rounder shape than those of the palm, it is an 

 elephant's ear among the foliage. The sweet river slips 

 on with a murmuring song, for these are the rivers of the 

 poets, and talk in verse for ever. Purple-tinted stones are 

 strewn about the shallows flat like tiles, and out among 

 the grass and the white orchis of the meadow. The 

 floods carried them there and left them dry in the sun. 

 Among these grows a thick bunch of mimulus or mon- 

 key-plant, well known in gardens, here flourishing alone 

 beside the stream. These two plants greatly interested 

 me : the last because it had long been a favourite in an 

 old garden and I had not before seen it growing wild ; 

 the other because though I knew its large leaf by repute, 

 this was the first time I had come upon it. Now that 

 little spot in the bend of the river by means of these 

 two plants is firmly impressed in my memory, and is a 

 joy to me whenever I think of it. The sunshine, the 

 song of the water, the pleasant green grass, the white 

 orchis, and the purplish stones were thereby rendered 

 permanent to me. Such is the wonderful power of 



plants. To any one who takes a delight in wild flowers 



167 



