TIMIDITY. 
269 
nual agitation; and being of a blackish 
green on the upper side, with a thick white 
cotton on the other, they were supposed to 
indicate the alternation of day and night. 
TIMIDITY. 
MARVEL OF PERU. 
This plant is called mirabilis, and with 
some degree of reason, for it is a most ad¬ 
mirable flower; it expands its richly-dyed 
corollas at night, whence it has been named 
by the French, belle-de-nuit. 
It is universally considered to be the 
emblem of timidity from its shunning the 
brilliant light of day, and only venturing 
to display its charms in the cool of the 
evening. 
The mimosa, or sensitive plant, has been 
assigned as the symbol of chastity and pru¬ 
dery, but we think it may be more properly 
used as the sign of timidity ; as it seems to 
fly from the hand that would touch it.. At 
the least approach the leaves shrink within 
themselves. The petiole then droops, and 
if the plant be low, it touches the earth. 
Even a cloud passing between it and the 
