PERSEUS AND ANDROMEDA. 13

comes to deliver her from her dangers, by chasing
away her foes, so does the summer, like another
Perseus, arrive, and, drying up the waters that
inundate the plant, chase away all her aquatic
enemies ; and then she carries her head (the cap-
sule), which before had drooped pensively, erect,
and displays her beauties to the sun.” Pleased
with the idea, he chose for this flower—which
formed a new genus in the botanical system he
was then arranging—the name of Andromeda.

Linneus visited England in the year 1736. No-
thing has been preserved of his observations
respecting the natural history of this country; but
there is a tradition which has spread far and wide,
that when he for the first time beheld the bright
golden blossoms of the gorse or furze on the broad-
spreading commons near London, especially Put-
ney Heath, so great was his delight that he fell on
his knees in a rapture at the sight. He was always
an admirer of this plant, and vainly tried to pre-
serve it through a Swedish winter in his green-
house. Perhaps some of my readers may share
with me his preference for a flower whose sweet,
honey-like odour fills the air, imparting delight,
while its brilliant bloom entertains the eye, which
might otherwise perchance weary of the monotony
of those bleak and level places which are its chosen
habitat.