APEIL. 133 



in a storm such a one as must occasionally occur to 

 every botanical explorator, and which has, perhaps too 

 often, exploded upon ourselves when unprepared for it. 

 The hills lour, the sudden blast whirls the pear-tree 

 blossoms far and wide, dense clouds obscure the sun, 

 and ' deep impervious gloom settles upon all things. 

 And now the hail impetuously rattles upon the heads 

 of the flying rustics ; cattle run beneath the old pollard 

 oaks ; sheep in a compact body take the shelter of an 

 overhanging thorny hedge ; birds scream, and are lost 

 to view amidst the twisted branches of the dark extend- 

 ing wood. But whither shall we fly, for a furious and 

 overwhelming snow-storm drives along, and we are 

 surprised upon the bare unsheltered hills ! But the 

 clouds fly swifter than the vicissitudes of life, far on 

 the storm pursues its mad career, and resplendent 

 peaked silvery cirrJw-cumuli rise majestically above the 

 black rain-clouds on the western horizon. 



