VERONICA. 155 



same as tlie Blaver or Blawort — the Centaurea cyanus." — "Nay ! 

 that cannot he : the Centaurea is a corn-field weed, — an autumnal 

 flower, — nor is it a sleeper at eventide. Let us hear the verse :" 



" When the Blewai-t bears a pearl, 



And the Daisy turns a pea. 

 And the bonuie Lucken-gowan 



Has fauldit up her ee. 

 Then the lavrock frae the blue hft, 



Draps down, and thinks nae shame 

 To woo his bonnie lassie 



When the kye comes hame." 



" Very well ! my good fellow, — the Blewart grows there at your feet, 

 and its first blossoms are giving blue eyes to that sunny hiUock. The 

 Blewart is the Veronica chamsedrys : its blossom is the pearl, when 

 at eve the flower has closed, and turned upon us the pale glaucous 

 underside of its petals: it is the companion of the Daisy and Lucken- 

 gowan : it is the ornament of the dean without a name." — After a 

 little more Ught discussion the demonstration appears complete ; and 

 we feel that there is more interest, and as much utility, in settling 

 the nomenclature of our pastoral bards as that of old herbalists and 

 dry-as-dust botanists. 



I have here attempted to sketch, slightly, a meeting of "our 

 Club *," and one of its rendezvous, and to indicate the nature of the 

 discoveries and discussions with which we beguile the morning walk ; 

 but I feel that the attempt is weak and ineff'ective. Yet on my 

 return from such a meeting, the conviction has often been forced 

 upon me that the poet was right when he said — 



" And he is oft the wisest man 

 Who is not wise at all." 



403. Veronica hederifolia. Plotl^nvof^OTi^tat — a name 

 which imphes that the plant grows best in a soil fitted for the cul- 

 tivation of that grain. It is an idle weed, which begins to flower 

 early in March, and continues to flower throughout the year. The 

 seminal leaves have a close resemblance to those of the Galium 

 aparine. 



404. V. AGRESTis. Cultivated fields, gardens, and waste grounds, 

 common. Summer. 



405. V. POLITA. In similar places to the preceding ; and the 

 two frequently grow together. 



* Dr. Hume has given the rules of our Club in his " History of the 

 Learned Societies of Britain" (See Trans. Berw. N. Club, ii. p. 204), and 

 there is a friendly notice of us by Mr. Ralph Carr in his first Address to 

 the Tyneside NaturaUsts' Field Club, Trans, i. p. 6. — On a intme occasion 

 I shall give a detailed History of the Club. In the mean time, I may 

 remark that its success has been the result of some negatives. Like the 

 " Friday Club," celebrated in Lord Jeffrey's Life, " We were troubled by 

 no written laws, no motions, no disputes, no ballots, no fines, no business 

 of any kind, except what was managed by one of ourselves as Secretary." 

 i. p. 1.51. 



