THE SUN-DEW TRIBE. 81 



You will presently see that so far as you have any 

 means of judging upon such points, the Tamarisk 

 Tribe has a near resemblance to the Sun-dews or 

 Droseras in some respects, although the resemblances 

 are in reality those of analogy only, and not of affinity. 



Queen of the Marsh, imperial Drosera treads 

 Rush-fringed banks and moss-embroidered beds ; 

 Redundant folds of glossy silk surround 

 Her slender waist, and trail upon the ground. 

 As with sweet grace her snowy neck she bows 

 A zone of diamonds trembles round her brows ; 

 Bright shines the silver halo, as she turns ; 

 And, as she steps, the living lustre burns. 



It is thus that Dr. Darwin introduces one of the 

 most curious little plants in the world ; and although 

 the exact rules of science will necessarily repudiate 

 such language, yet it must be confessed that there is 

 much poetical truth and beauty in the description. 



You will, I am quite sure, be anxious to make ac- 

 quaintance with Drosera, who would rather seem to be 

 a fairy than a plant, by the poet's description ; but 

 I fear there is little chance of your beholding her upon 

 her own moss-embroidered bed, unless by accident : for 

 her home is the fen and the marsh, the oozy heath and 

 the treacherous morass, where she takes possession of 

 every little hillock elevated somewhat above the sur- 

 rounding waters, and whence no art can induce her per- 

 manently to depart. If you snatch her from her native 

 soil, and cherish her with the most curious care, you will 

 hardly succeed in prolonging her existence beyond a 



VOL. II. G 



