AQUILE^GIA CANADEN'SIS. 
CANADIAN COLUMBINE. 
Class. Order. 
POLYANDRIA. PBNTAGYNIA. 
Naiural Order. 
BANONCULACE^. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
N. America. 
18 inches. 
Apr. May. 
Perennial. 
in 1640. 
No. 322. 
The term, Aquilegia, is compounded from the 
Latin aquila, an eagle ; and lego, to gather ; in allu- 
sion to the nectaries, which are, in most species, pe- 
culiarly recimved, and bear a fancied resemblance to 
the closing claws of an eagle. The more familiar 
name. Columbine, is founded on the word columba, 
a pigeon ; a representation of the neck and head of 
which bird, the fertile imaginations of former bota- 
nists have discovered in the shape and colour of a 
part of the wild flower. Some, too, have fancied that 
a bird, in flight, is represented by part of this curi- 
ous blossom. Indeed, almost every child has some 
knowledge of the peculiarity of its formation. 
The dissection and examination of a singularly 
compoimded flower, like the common Columbine, 
may, at least, be regarded as an innocent recreation 
for our young friends. Their ideas and ingenuity 
will thus be exerted on a part of creation w hich none 
dare to pronounce unworthy of the attention of the 
wisest. For, independent of the positively virtuous 
sentiments which such pursuits originate, the mind 
must thereby become less and less the willing recep- 
tacle of meaner subjects. 
