THE SERPENTINE CACTUS. 



THE SERPENTINE CACTUS (C. Serpentinus).— 

 Horror. 



This species of Cactus throws its thorny stems, which bear 

 a strong resemblance to serpents, in every direction. Its un- 

 expected appearance within view, produces a slight sense of 

 that Horror which we should feel, if a living reptile of a 

 deadly nature were suddenly before us. 



THE SERVICE TREE {Pyrus ^<?M^i-if?Va).— Prudence. 



Every tree and every plant has its own peculiar phy- 

 siognomy which seems to give it character. The thoughtless 

 almond tree hastens to display her flowers in the Spring, at 

 the risk of not bearing any fruit in the autumn, whilst the 

 Service Tree, which comes forth more tardily, bears its fruit 

 only when it has acquired its full strength; but then its crop 

 is made sure. Hence it is the meet emblem of Prudence. 

 This tree, so beautiful and so hardy, retains its shining red 

 berries the winter through ; we see them glittering in the 

 midst of snows ; it is a harvest which is yielded only in 

 winter, and which Providence has kept in reserve for the 

 smaller birds. 



SHAKING SAINTFOIN {Hedysarum Gyrans).— 

 Agitation. 



This wonderful plant is a native of Bengal, near the 

 Ganges. No sooner do the ternate leaves of a seedling 



184 



