37 



innocent little birds when the forest is bare and they have no 

 other home ; it feeds them with its bright scarlet berries when 

 they have no other food. Its foliage shines in glossy greenness 

 through the long and dreary winter, adding a charm to the 

 frozen landscape, when all else is barren and leafless. With 

 evergreen shrubs, among which the Holly stands first, we de- 

 corate at some seasons of the year our houses and our churches. 

 As the devout Bishop Mant says, 



- "Above, the Holly glads the scene, 



With prickly leaves of glossy green ; 



And girt with balls of scarlet dye, 



Boon nature's provident supply 



Of banquet for the eager bird. 



Unless to village church transferred, 



It lends its brilliant colors gay, 



To grace the Saviour's natal day." 



The leaves of our plant are prickly, but let it not be despised 

 on that account ; on the contrary, this alone should turn our 

 negligence to attention, for it is only on the lower part of the 

 Holly tree that the leaves are prickly : 



"Below a circling fence, its leaves are seen 



Wrinkled and keen ; 

 Ho grazing cattle through their prickly round 



Can reach to wound. 



But, a they grow where nothing is to fear, 

 Smooth and unarm 'd the pointless leaves appear. 

 " Thus should my youth, as youth is apt I know 



Some harshness show ; 

 All vain asperities, I day by day, 



Would wear away 



Till the smooth temper of my age should be 

 Like the high leaves upon the holly tree." Southey. 



PEARL-WORT. SAGINA. 

 PROCUMBENT PEARL-WORT. Sagina procumlens. 



Plate 2, fig. 8. 



The Pearl-worts are of little beauty or value. This species, 

 which is perennial, grows on sandy heaths, garden walks, and 

 such places. It is seldom more than two or three inches high, 

 its stems resting on the ground, and often throwing out roots 

 at the joints in the lower parts of them. It is much branched, 

 and bears very minute white flowers, of four petals each. The 

 flower buds are drooping. 



O. S. Annual Small-flowered Pearl-wort, almost as common as the 

 above, and Sea Pearl-wort, a very small annual, and the flowers without 

 petals. 



