VIOLACEyi:. 17 



replaced by a golden Violet ; and at Toulouse a society was instituted, which afterwards 

 became the Academy of Floral Games, in which this prize was striven for. The " true 

 blue" of the Violet has ever been associated with fidelity ; as in the old sonnet we have, — 



"Violet is for faithfulnesse, 

 Which in me shall abide, 

 Hoping likewise that from your heart 

 You will not let it slide." 



The sweet Violet and the sweet bird of song are associated not alone in poetic 

 fancy, for it is a curious fact that where the Violet grows there may be heard the 

 nightingale. Milton says : — 



" In the Violet-embroidered vale 

 The love-lorn nightingale 

 Nightly her sad song mourueth well." 



And who amongst us will not welcome the first Violets of the early spring,— 



" Gleaming like amethysts in the dewy moss 1 " 



SPECIES III.— VIOLA HIRTA. Linn. 



Plate CLXXII. 



Reich. Ic. El. Germ, et Helv. Vol. III. Viol. Tab. V. Fig. 4493. 



Rootstock short, branched, scarred, producing radical leaves and 

 leafless peduncles ; scions generally present, but usually very short. 

 Leaves ovate or triangular-ovate, deeply cordate at the base, with 

 an acute but rather blunt angle at the apex, clothed with short hairs 

 on the upper and under surfaces, and with more numerous hairs of 

 the same kind on the edges and peduncles ; stipules sub-membranous, 

 lanceolate, with glandular hair-like processes on the margins. Bracts 

 below the middle of the peduncles. Flowers inodorous or very 

 slightly fragrant. Style slightly thickened upwards and hooked at 

 the apex. Capsule globose, downy. 



In thickets and shady places, preferring calcareous or sandy 

 soils. E-ather rare ; most frequent on the eastern side of the island, 

 where it occurs as far north as Forfarshire. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Spring and (apctalous 

 flowers) Summer. 



Extremely like V. odorata, but from the scions being very short 

 it forms large tufts, the young plants growing close to the parents. 

 The leaves are much narrower in proportion, more triangular, 

 m.ore deeply crenate, the sinus at the base more open, and the 

 whole plant much more hairy, especially on the leafstalks. The 

 spur of the flower is rather longer, and the bracts nearer tlie base 

 of the peduncles. The capsules are frequently produced from the 



