i;8 Hillside. 



lizard is dubbed as poisonous by the ignorant labourer, and 

 it is brutally killed when met with by those to whom, in- 

 deed, its preservation should be a matter of solicitude. But 

 it has many foes besides ignorance. Snakes, vipers, hawks, 

 and many other animals and birds, feed on it ravenously. 

 Its remarkable similarity in colour to its surroundings un- 

 doubtedly aids it greatly in its " struggle for existence " 

 against such powerful opponents, and its wonderful agility 

 frequently stands it in good stead. The farmer, however, 

 should protect it as much as possible, the good done to him 

 by these little creatures being simply incalculable. 



But the day is far spent. The shadows of the surround- 

 ing bushes grow longer and longer as the sun's rays become 

 more and more oblique. We will not go yet, however. 

 Everything is so quiet here, so peaceful. Let us wander by 

 the edge of the wood. Here is a plant of the Fly Orchis ! 

 How perfectly does the flower of this interesting plant 

 mimic the insect after which it is named, each blossom re- 

 sembling, even to the production of all the various parts of 

 the body, a fly crawling up a stalk, just as the Bee Orchis 

 resembles, to the smallest particular, the insect after which 

 it is named. Of it the poet writes 



" "Tis Nature's plan 



Religion in your love to find, 

 And know for this she first in man 



Inspired the imitative mind. 

 As conscious that affection grows 



Pleased with the pencil's mimic power, 

 That power with leading hand she shows, 



And paints a bee upon a flower." 



Here is a bed of one of the slender-leaved trefoils. How 

 pretty these little plants are ! What a wealth of sentiment 



