The flowers are small and silky; in color a beautiful deep crimson, tending toward violet. Many flowers are gathered into a large round-topped head, that is held in an admirably shaped green cup, which is protected by many, long, needle-pointed, white spines. One or two flower-heads occur together on the summit of the stalk, or branch. Their perfume is delicious. This might well be named the Warrior Thistle, being armed _cap-a-pie_ for conflict with cows and boys, and nearly impregnable against them. It loves to sit beside a boulder in the midst of cow-path, or bye-lane, and defy intercourse with any, save the bumble-bees, who sleep upon the silken flower o’ nights. Special observation should be given to the classic vase-shape of the cup. [Illustration: COMMON THISTLE: Cnicus lanceolatus.] *Pasture Thistle.* _Cnicus pumilus._ *Bull Thistle.* Found in dry pastures, uplands, roadsides, during July and August. The erect, and somewhat branching, stalk varies from 1 to 3 feet in height; it is sparingly leafy, very large, and stout of fibre, and round; hairy to the touch. Color, green. The leaf is long, and narrow, with a stout midrib; the margin is cut frequently but not deeply, each joint being tipped with a spine that is not so long as those of the Common Thistle; the texture is strong-fibred, the upper surface rather smooth, the underside covered with cobwebby hairs. The color, green. The leaf somewhat clasps the stalk; and the arrangment is alternate, at some distance apart. The silky flowers are crimson-purple, less strong in tone than the Common Thistle; spreading softly, in a large, rounded, downy head, from the large cup. The cup is a fine urn-shape, closely covered with short prickles; green in color; with a few small leaves at the base. One to three flower heads rise from the summit of the stalk, or branches. Larger (the flower-head is often nearly two inches across), but less ferociously equipped than the Warrior Thistle, this carries a sweeter perfume, and is the beloved of the bees. Especially is the flower-head lovely in color. [Illustration: PASTURE THISTLE: C. pumilus.] *Canada Thistle.* _Cnicus arvensis._ Found, during July and August, in lanes and fields. The stalk is branching, and leafy, and from 2 to 3 feet in height; it is large, tough in fibre, and grooved. Its color is grayish-green. The leaf is narrow, and sharp-pointed, the margin deeply notched, and much ruffled, and bristling in all directions and from every notch with short, sharp spines; the strong midrib is lighter in color than the grayish-green leaf. The leaves, set immediately upon the stalk, are alternately placed.