APRIL. 



125 



eyes on the morning co-incident with the appearance 

 of the feathered warblers. Nor less do I remember 

 another dingle thick embowered with wood, where 

 springs trickled from amidst curling ferns, and meet- 

 ing rills dashed their brown waters over stony slabs 

 of high polish to foam and sputter in the deepening 

 ravine, where far below lonely pools enamoured the 

 blue kingfisher. There have I lingered after birds and 

 flowers like a "vagabond flag" -as these lines part of a 

 longer effusion may show. 



Deep in the dandling foliage I beheld 

 A sportive Willow-\Yren as swift he flew ; 

 Down the rough glen by nature's love impell'd 

 I follow'd, but he vanish'd from my view ; 

 Yet it was lovely in the morning dew 

 To see the Bilberry blossoms, and to hear 

 From the young verdant foliage, the new 

 Song of the Blackcap burst upon the ear 

 Midst green romantic dells and splashing waters near. 



Here I could linger in the woody glen 

 Beneath the beech or pensile birch-tree laid, 

 And mark the flowers, the modest Woodroof when 

 Her milk-white blossoms scent the mossy shade, 

 And Alchemilia's green ones scarce survey'd, 

 Though curious with her spreading leafy fan, 

 With Woodrush's tall tapering silky blade, 

 Fair Vicia's purple clusters in the van, 

 And Strawberry's bunches white, and tall Alisma's wan. 



Besides the plants here enumerated, the wild yellow 

 Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris), is occasionally met with 

 beautifying dry banks or old quarries, yet too seldom 

 flowering even in localities where it may have been 

 noticed for years, the long narrow glazed leaves only 

 appearing to view. In rough hilly spots, many a lofty 

 spreading Ash tree yet stands leafless, though bearing 



