THE CROWFOOT FAMILY. 39 



the Flower of the Crowfoot ; and the Seed-vessel of 

 the Marsh Marigold, &c. The Seed-vessels of all this 

 Order, are either Follicles, or Achenes. 



Get some COLUMBINES, with flowers quite single, 

 (not with one petal within another) and observe how 

 beautifully they are formed, " terminating below, in a 

 horn-shaped spur ; or nectary, it may be called." 

 The Columbine is named Aquilegia, on that account. 

 Aquila being Latin for Eagle, whose claws, the 

 nectaries resemble. While its name of Columbine, 

 is from Columbo, a Pigeon; whose neck and head 

 also resemble these nectaries, in color as well as in 

 form. These pretty spurred-petals, always remind me 

 of Cornucopias ; and the seed-vessel, half-open, show- 

 ing its ripe, dark seeds within, is a very good resem- 

 blance to a " horn of plenty" also. PI. II. 4. and 7 f. 

 The wild-flowers are of a dingy light purple ; on 

 which account, perhaps, the poet tells us, that : 



" In the bridal wreath 



The Columbine amongst, they sparingly do set." 



The beautiful branching LARKSPUR, which is gene- 

 rally of a bright blue, in its wild state ; but often pink, 

 and white, in gardens, (as is the Columbine also) has 



