26S 



FLASMLKiHTS ON NATCKK 



and as llic branches of j^orse are i»reen like the 

 leaves, liotli pertOnn the same feeding function. 



In No. 5 I have chosen for illustration and 

 coinpaiison a tiill-j^rown shoot of tlu' cotnnion- 



^centerl yellow 

 j^enista, so often 

 j^rown in pots 

 as a talile decora- 

 tion. Tiiis prettv 

 shrub be^^ins in 

 life so much like 

 a^orse-bush,that 

 if 1 weri' to show 

 you very youth- 

 ful seedlings of 

 both, vou could 

 hardly discrimi- 

 nate them. That 

 is U) say, in all 

 probability, both 

 are descendants 

 of a conmion an- 

 cestor which had 

 trefoil leaves and 

 bri>4ht yellowpea- 

 llowers. But the 

 scented j^enistas 

 happened to lind theii lot cast in inaccessible 

 places, on clitfs or craj^s, where defence aj^ainst 

 browsinj^ ammals was practicallv luniecessary ; 

 while »)ur rudi-r nortluri. j^orse had its lines laid 

 on rough upland moors, wLere every passing beast 



Nt>. 5. IIS in<sr roi SIN, iiiK liKMsiA. 



