EXPLOEATOEY NOTICES FOE OCTOBEE. 



the country a pallid or umber covering of withered 

 leaves may now be truly said to have invested and 

 almost entirely hidden all traces of phanerogamous 

 vegetation ; for 



" In the mid days of autumn, on their eves 

 The breath of winter comes from far away, 



And the sick west continually bereaves 

 Of some gold tinge, and plays a roundelay 



Of death among the bushes and the leaves, 

 To make all bare before he dares to stray 



From his north cavern." * 



So in the woods the leaves fall thicker and thicker, 

 till the ground is softly matted and of an umber die, 

 forming a nidus for many fungi. Yet a few flowers 

 struggle to the last, contending with stormy gusts 

 and short days, so that the Botanist will not find all 

 barren in his Explorations even now ; and, indeed, a 

 moist season frequently discloses some kinds of plants 

 to greater perfection in the autumnal season than at 

 any other time, while, under such circumstances, even 

 vernal flowers will again renew their perishable beau- 

 ties. No walk, then, need be made in vain, for late 

 in this very month I have gathered Clilora perfoliata, 

 Gentiana amarella, Acinos vulgaris, Cnicus acaulis, and 

 Campanula glomerata, all in full flower, not to mention 

 several species of MentJia, Tliymus : and Apargia, that 

 yet remain studding the meadows and copses in vari- 

 ous spots. 



* KEATS. 

 2 K 



