200 Marsh. 



but it is the Iris that is figured, and its close alliance with 

 the lilies undoubtedly caused it to be included in that 

 general term before scientific botany and the classification 

 of plants were even in their infancy. Sufficient that their 

 leaves showed the same general characters, that their flowers 

 approximated in some degree to a general conformation, and 

 the use of the old name " lilies " for most showy monocoty- 

 ledonous flowers may be readily understood. 



We have become quite enthusiastic over the Iris, but 

 as we lie on the soft grass and look into the water, we 

 notice an apparent shadow motionless therein. Do not stir ; 

 I will tie a small piece of stick to this string. Now I drop 

 it on the water. The apparent shadow at once resolves 

 itself into a little fish, which darts forward, tugs manfully at 

 the stick, and making no impression on it, returns to its 

 original position. It is a male of the three-spined stickle- 

 back, beautifully rose-coloured now, and there, just behind 

 him, near the root of that bulrush, is a little elevated mass 

 of mud, into which have been woven small pieces of stick 

 and fragments of plants, the whole covered in at the top 

 with mud. This is the stickleback's nest in which the lady 

 stickleback has deposited her spawn, which he is now 

 watching so jealously. Nothing will be allowed to come 

 near it until the young fish hatch, which they will do in 

 about a fortnight. Strange little objects the young fish are 

 when first hatched, with the yelk-bag attached to them ; 

 but this soon disappears. Then the father's duties are over, 

 and the young fish are left to shift for themselves. 



We leave the stickleback, our attention being attracted 

 by a number of beautiful dragon-flies, which are skimming 

 rapidly over the water, hawking for flies. Just observe one 



