DEVIL'S-BIT SCABIOUS. 



Scabiosa succisa. Nat. Ord., 

 Dipsacacece. 



,HE devil's-bit scabious is one 

 of the common plants of our 

 meadows and pastures, and as 

 it comes at a time when there 

 are few other blossoms to dis- 

 tract our attention from it, it 

 SV^ can scarcely fail to be noticed. 

 Most of the other meadow 

 l\\ flowers appear and pass away 

 '(.; at an earlier period of the 

 year ; the delicate yellow cow- 

 slips, the golden buttercups 

 s and dandelions, the great ox- 

 eye daisies, have all. come and 

 gone before the rich purple globes 

 of blossom of the scabious, or the 

 lighter purple bells of the harebell 

 make their appearance. The peculiarly deep colour of the 

 flowers of the present species of scabious is in itself a 

 feature that attracts attention, as we have few other blos- 

 soms of that strength of tint. There is a second common 

 species of scabious, also to be found amongst our illustra- 

 tions, that has larger flowers, and these are of a delicate 

 59 



