138 PLANTS GROWING IN RICH OR ROCKY SOIL. 



Squirrel and song-sparrow, 



High on their perch, 

 Hear the sweet lily-bells 



Ringing to church." 



Spring has hardly thrown her green mantle over her shoulders 

 when the quaint preacher rises in his pulpit, and in language 

 soft and solemn speaks to the rustling elves and spirits of the 

 woodlands. He is a sturdy fellow, and we believe what he says 

 must be thoroughly orthodox ; although we lament that we 

 have not the quickened perceptions to understand him better. 

 But we know he is beloved by his people, or they would not so 

 familiarly dub him Jack, nor would he return among them so 

 faithfully. The preacher has a rustic grace about him that is 

 quite inimitable ; and the magic he exercises on the children is 

 only equalled by the charms of the wily Piper of Hamelin town. 



" Jack-in-the-pulpit has come," they cry, " Jack-in-the-pulpit 

 has come." 



" Come, hear what his reverence 



Rises to say 

 In his low painted pulpit 



This calm Sabbath day. 

 Fair is the canopy 



Over him seen, 

 Pencilled by Nature's hand, 



Black, brown and green. 

 Green is his surplice, 



Green are his bands ; 

 In his queer little pulpit 



The little priest stands." 



STROPHILIRION. (Plate LXXL} 



Strophilirion Calif ornicum . 



FAMILY COLOUR .ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Lily. Rose. Scentless. In the Sierra Nevada* and May. 



California. 



Flowers : growing in a many-flowered umbel with a row of bracts underneath. 

 Perianth ; short funnel-form, contracted at the throat of four or five oblong 

 lanceolate segments. Stamens : three, on the throat, alternating with three 

 sterile filaments that are very short and have a lanceolate wing on each side. 



