The leading feature of the book is the arrangement of the plants and trees according to their seasons, habitats and habits; an arrangement which will undoubtedly be of the greatest assistance to the lover of wild flowers during his work in the field, and also while examining and identifying his gathered specimens at home. A large portion of the space has necessarily been allotted to the descriptions of plants, several hundreds of which have been included, and a large proportion of these illustrated; but not a little has been devoted to an attempt to create an interest in some of those wonderful habits which lead us to look upon plants as living beings with attractions even more engrossing than their beautiful forms and colours. It has been thought advisable to give but little attention to aquatic plants and to the flowers which are to be found only on the coast, these having been previously included in former volumes of this series dealing, respectively, with pond life and the sea shore. The thanks of the author are due to his friend, G. Du Heaume, Esq., for his valuable assistance in collecting many of the flowers required for description and illustration. W. S. F. CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. INTRODUCTION--GENERAL CHARACTERS OF PLANTS AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF FLOWERS 1 II. THE POLLINATION AND FERTILISATION OF FLOWERS 25 III. CLIMBING PLANTS 30 IV. EARLY SPRING 39 V. WOODS AND THICKETS IN SPRING 48 VI. THE SPRING-FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS OF WOODS, THICKETS, AND HEDGEROWS 61 VII. WAYSIDES AND WASTES IN SPRING 81 VIII. MEADOWS, FIELDS, AND PASTURES--SPRING 108 IX. BOGS, MARSHES, AND WET PLACES IN SPRING 123 X. WOODS AND THICKETS IN SUMMER 130 XI. WASTES AND WAYSIDES IN SUMMER 151 XII. WASTES AND WAYSIDES IN SUMMER--COMPOSITE FLOWERS 175 XIII. WASTES AND WAYSIDES IN SUMMER--_continued_ 190 XIV. MEADOWS, FIELDS, AND PASTURES--SUMMER 211 XV. BOGS, MARSHES, AND WET PLACES--SUMMER 236 XVI. ON HEATH, DOWN, AND MOOR 257 XVII. IN THE CORN FIELD 281 XVIII. ON THE CHALK 296 XIX. BY THE RIVER SIDE 312 XX. ON WALLS, ROCKS, AND STONY PLACES 318 XXI. FIELD AND WAYSIDE IN AUTUMN 328