JULY. 273 



at this season, with steaming brow and panting heart, 

 have I stood midway upon the burning precipice, and 

 forgotten care and disappointment in the flowers 

 around me ; how often, on some rustic seat, in the 

 deep woods, has the "hum of noon" tingled in my 

 ears, as far from the haunts of men I was resting in 

 oblivious luxury with the delicate Winter-green (fy- 

 rola) in my hands, or some other plant found for the 

 first time, and long sought in vain, while pools, visited 

 only by the coot or wild-duck, gleamed mistily before 

 my eyes, and the rustle of the squirrel, high in over- 

 hanging forest trees, alone met my ears. When the 

 great Bell-flower or Throatwort (Campanula latifolia), 

 first met my admiring gaze on the red sand cliffs of 

 Shrawley, how dashed I down its steeps to clasp the 

 prize and I have guided neophytic friends to bogs 

 dotted with the flossy Cotton-grass (Eriophorum) t 

 whose enthusiasm would scarcely allow any but them- 

 selves to gather it. But these are dreams of botanical 

 delight for ever past ! 



Contemplate we now the JEstival flora in its charac- 

 teristic splendour. It is not till midsummer has fairly 

 revealed itself, that the beautiful tribe of St. John's- 

 worts (Hypericum)* present themselves with their 

 bright flowers and curiously perforated leaves ; the 

 Dogwood (Cornus sanguined), with its congregated 



* This is a very showy family, distinguished in most instances by their 

 curious perforated leaves, whence the French name, " le millepertius," 

 or many-pierced, from the leaves exhibiting minute or glandular perfora- 

 tions, when held up to the light. 



" Hypericon was there, the herb of war, 



Pierc'd through with wounds, and seam'd with many a scar." 

 The leaves of the Tutsan were formerly applied to fresh wounds, whence 

 it derived the French name of " la toute-sain." The St. John's Worts, so 

 called from their commencing flowering on the Baptist's day, in June, are 

 generally set down in Floras as belonging to July only. 



T 



