VIOLET FAMILY. 77 



marks, are by the author of " Flora Historica," and 

 so well point out the curious beauties of the flower, 

 that they must be given in his own words : few will 

 think the description too long. " The spur of the 

 petals contains the nectar ; and if it is carefully split 

 open with a pointed knife, it will be seen that the two 

 lower anthers have a tongue, or tube attached to them, 

 which descends into the spur evidently to draw up the 

 nectareous juice. As the Violet blossoms, in a season 

 when there are but few plants in flower, nature seems 

 to have taken a double precaution to secure the en- 

 trance against intrusion. The two side petals are 

 furnished with a kind of beard, which keeps out the 

 smallest insect, at the same time it admits air which 

 appears to be necessary in the formation of the nectar. 

 The stigma of the sweet Violet, when attached to the 

 seed-vessel, is not unlike the Ostrich, in shape, but 

 when the Corolla and Calyx are carefully removed, 

 (leaving only the pails of fructification attached to the 

 receptacle) a most beautiful miniature bird is repre- 

 sented ! The stigma forms the head and beak, the 

 anthers make a golden breast, whilst their tongues 

 appear like a pair of green wings." And now, does not 

 the sweet Violet appear, a still more beautiful and in- 

 teresting flower than you thought it before you exa- 

 mined it thus carefully ? 



