RED WILD FLOWERS 
base of the leaf stems. The slightly angular, bell- 
shaped calyx is exceedingly thick and fleshy, and is 
covered with minute hairs. Its upper part is divided 
into three short-pointed lobes which, at first, are 
incurved, then become widely spread, and form a tri- 
angular outline. The edges are also curved outward. 
Their base forms a cup around the short, thick, six- 
parted pistil, which is surrounded with a dozen stamens. 
It is stained with purple and olive brown, and is found 
from April to June, from New Brunswick to Manitoba, 
and south to North Carolina, Missouri, and Kansas. 
WILD COLUMBINE 
Aquilégia canadénsis. Crowfoot F amily. 
There is probably nothing else in the world so 
exhilarating as a breath of pure, a spring atmos- 
phere on a balmy day during the blithesome month of 
May, when everything out-of-doors is stretching and 
preparing once more for the good old summer time. 
Thus sing the poets, and it is especially true when one 
is privileged to nestle in admiration among the dried 
leaves and rocks beside the Wild Columbine, for this 
exquisite flower possesses such an unusually charming 
and vigorous air at this time that, altogether, it warms 
the heart, quickens the pulse, and thrills the beholder 
with a genuine glow of pleasure and happiness. 
Unfortunately, however, the Columbines are becoming 
more exclusive each year, owing to the great tempta- 
tion one experiences to pluck them, and to the still 
greater yielding to this temptation by careless persons 
Io 
