WALK TO CAvSTELLAR. 267 



clusters of flowers all through the winter. The yellow 

 anthers protrude from the little white blossoms, which 

 ha\e four crossed petals. At first they are seen against 

 a briglit green ground, but this, as well as the stamens, 

 becomes brownish red later so that the older flowers 

 show a dark centre. The path continues over bare rocks, 

 but soon we are surrounded bv Lavender (Fig. p. 257), 

 Cistiis (Fig. p. 83), Tree Heath (Fig. p. 1/5), Rliamnus 

 (Fig. p. 367), and PJiillvrea (Fig. p. 343), and before long 

 come across one or other of those beautiful orchids in 

 whicli the countr\' round Mentone is so rich. Here also 

 i.s a species of Spurge-Laurel, Daphne Gnidiioii (Fig. 

 p. 153), a bright green buslr, striking on account of its 

 almost vertical branches which are covered the whole of 

 their length with erect linear leaves, hi spring this bush 

 is onh' seen in leaf, for the sweet-scented flowers do not 

 appear till summer. The elegant Selag-iiiella deiiticulaia 

 clings to the dark ground on the banks of the roads. 

 A\'e grow this little bright green plant in our conserva- 

 tories at home to cover rock-work or level spots, as 

 ^^ ith a green s^^ard. It is a crA'ptogam, the spores of 

 which are enclosed in cases borne on spicate shoots which 

 grow in the axils of the scale-like lea\'es. 



The path soon leads into a Pine wood, then through 

 an Olive grove, continuallv revealing new aspects of that 

 noble mountain panorama which makes Mentone one of 

 the most glorious spots on the Riviera. The visitor to 

 Mentone should begin his rambles with tliis excursion; 

 it will introduce him at once to the full splendour of this 

 landscape. 



