118 COMMELYNA VIRGINICA.—-COMMON DAY-FLOWER. 
visit it in its native places, and study it in connection with all its 
surroundings. In these situations it often gives a charm to the 
aspects of nature that is almost indescribable. One such spot on 
the Wissahickon near Philadelphia is now in the writers’ mind, 
fresh and vivid, though it is years since the picture was painted 
there. The narrow path had been worn so deep by the rains of 
ages that a bank of many feet high lined its sides. Naked rocks 
projected from the banks here and there; and ferns, grasses, and 
flowering plants lovingly strove to cover them. At the top were 
Red Maples, Dogwoods, and Hornbeams, which made a partial 
shade, but did not wholly screen the sun from the earth at the 
base of the bank, where, and by the path’s side, the little “day- 
flower” struggled up,—now rooting in the ground to hold itself— 
now hanging its branches from the rocks,—gaining continually in 
its struggle upwards, but growing so luxuriantly and seeming 
so happy in its gains! Day by day, the little blue flowers came 
out to cheer and encourage the plant in its work,—just opeaing, 
smiling approvingly, and then sinking at once to rest. 
“The dew stole up 
From the fresh daughters of the earth, and heat 
Came like a sleep upon the delicate leaves, 
And bent them with the blossoms to their dreams,” 
as in the days when, according to Willis, Abraham went forth to 
make his fearful sacrifice. In the morning, before the dew has 
wholly stolen away, and in the months of July and August, is the 
time to see it at its best. Then the blue flowers are most numer- 
ous. Sometimes as much as one-fourth of the whole green bed 
of foliage is bedecked with the ccerulean blue, 
But the child of science will find abundant interest in it inde- 
pendently of the beauty it affords. In our description we have 
adopted Dr. Darlington’s sketch, because it agrees so remarkably 
with our drawing, which is also from a Pennsylvanian plant, though 
he has not described it under its present name. Dr. Darling- 
ton says: “I have specimens from the South of C. axgustifoha, 
with really narrow lance-linear leaves; yet ours with its lanceolate 
