MAT. 167 



borders of wandering brooks with its silvery stars. In 

 the open field the elegant green-flowered Ladies' Man- 

 tle (Alchemilla vulgar is) t charms the eye and shows 

 its wide plaited leaves amidst the grass, while the 

 scattered flowers of the "White Saxifrage (Saxifraga 

 granulata), and the meek blue ones of the wood Scor- 

 pion-grass (Myosotis syhatica), have a lovely effect. 



The woods are now glorious with their fresh and 

 green umbrageous multitude of leaves ; and within 

 their cool recesses how delightful to pass the noontide 

 hours. Oft have we done so, reading a page of living 

 poetry, surrounded by an investiture of quivering 

 foliage, hiding nought else but mossy banks, blue skies, 

 or sailing clouds. In such lone spots the blue Colum- 

 bine (Aquilegia vulgar is), adorns the scene ; the 

 "Woodrufle (Asperula odorata,) fills the air with fra- 

 grance; and the delicate Lily of the Yalley (Convallaria 

 majalis), droops its stainless bells. The mountain 

 Speedwell (Veronica montana), a great lover of the 

 shade, adorns with its pale blue flowers the ground of 

 the wood, contrasted here and there with the yellow 

 Pimpernel, and the deeper blue of the Milkwort 

 (Poly gala vulgaris). The tinkling rill that slowly 

 winds its way amidst a labyrinth of briars, is profusely 

 covered with the snowy clusters of the Samsons, or 

 broad-leaved Garlick, (Allium ursimm), and the tall 

 Comfrey (Sympliytum officinalis), is conspicuous by 

 the river, with its curled corollas of dingy purple and 

 long-pointed rough leaves. In the same locality the 

 shaggy spikes of the great river Carex (G. riparia), 

 present themselves, forming thickets where the blacJc- 

 Jieaded Bunting loves to hide, and on whose tall stems 

 the quick-darting pink-hued Dragon-flies, or orange- 



