A SECRET OF THE CHARM OF FLOWERS 141 



although in a majority of cases, the resemblance 

 being but slight and to some one quahty only, 

 we are not conscious of the cause of the ex- 

 pression. 



It was principally with flowers, which excite 

 more attention and give more pleasure than most 

 natural objects, that my mind was occupied in 

 this connection ; for here it seemed to me that 

 the effect was similar to that produced on the 

 mind by sweet human-like tones in bird music. 

 In other words, a very great if not the principal 

 charm of the flower was to be traced to the 

 human associations of its colouring ; and this 

 was, in some cases, more than all its other 

 attractions, including beauty of form, purity and 

 brUliance of colour, and the harmonious arrange- 

 ment of colours ; and, finally, fragrance, where 

 such a quahty existed. 



We see, then, that there is an intimate 

 connection between the two subjects — human 

 associations in the colouring of flowers and in 

 the voices of birds ; and that in both cases this 

 association constitutes, or is a principal element 

 in, the expression. This connection, and the 

 fact that the present subject was suggested and 



