(is WILD FLOWERS OF 



ambulaiion along the hill side, over crisp brown 

 brakes arid pallid withered moss. All is dark and 

 shadowy out of the direct course of the solar beams, 

 but here and there amidst the wood a ragged lichen- 

 ized rock juts forth, like some hoary bard of ancient 

 days, to diversify the gloom ; but over head the deep 

 blue sky is calm and serene as a May- day, the lark 

 is carolling his matin hymn there, and amidst the 

 alders and holly bushes that girdle round the faint 

 glimmering pool and swamps below, the sable bird 

 " with orange-tawny bill," is whistling his cadences 

 to hasten on spring from amongst the yet imexpanded 

 primroses ; while slowly journeying, high in air, a 

 whole tribe of cawing rooks are hastening to their 

 nest-trees. 



How pleasant it is now to come unexpectedly upon 

 some warm sunny bank that surly winter seems to 

 have forgotten to have visited in his wrath, and where 

 all is mild, genial, and invigorating. There the 

 Dandelion shows his golden mimic sun, the pale blue- 

 eyed Veronica (either polita or liederifolla) languidly 

 opens her azure blossom, and a baud of laughing 

 Daisies, 



" Ever alike fair and fresh of hewe, 

 As well in winter as in summer newe," 



as Father CHAUCER wordeth it, revel in the bright 

 but transient beams of the halcyon noon of February. 

 The little " crimson tipped ' Daisy, so characteristic 

 of the pastures of temperate climes, but unknown in 

 the cast and unfitted for the heat of the tropics, has 

 been much noticed by DRTDEN, and many other 

 English bards, and being among the earliest of Mora's 

 primeval train, to spangle the meadows, ever meets the 



