24‘2 
young plants to an almost incredible distance. These seeds 
are very beautiful, too, as well as curious. Floating about in 
the air, and so light as to be seen scudding along before a 
breeze so soft that you can scarcely feel it upon your 
cheek, they form one of the great beauties of Autumn. 
Who has not in childhood chased the hairy Thistle-down ? 
for it furnishes much better sport than a feather, from its 
extreme lightness; and being spread out in a globular form, 
rolls along like a fairy-wheel upon the air. Were I to build 
a chariot for Queen Mab, I would certainly employ the 
Thistle-down for wheels. 
As an emblem-flower of bonny Scotland, too, the Thistle 
has acquired no small degi-ee of notoriety. And over many a 
kindly missive of gentle and loving words do seals keep 
guard, bearing the impression of a Thistle, and the posy, 
Dinna Forget.” For my own part, I think a finely 
grown tall Thistle-plant, with its chevaux-de-frise’d leaves, 
and bright purple flowers, swelling out from the bristling 
calyx, like a full petticoat from under a green boddice, a 
very handsome and ornamental addition either in field or 
garden (I am no farmer ); and the evident relish with 
which I have seen poor hedge-feeding donkies crunching its 
rough stalks and leaves, is to me a very conclusive argument 
in favour of the persecuted Thistle-tribe; which seems to 
occupy a similar position in the race of flowers to that held 
by the Gypsies in our own. 
The illustrative drawing represents the Holy Thistle 
(Carduus Benediclus), which is more remarkable for the 
