MARCH. 93 



seein as if the row in -which it stands had been sub- 

 jected to all the horrors of a cannonade. The elmy 

 grange has generally a rookery attached to it, where 

 securely located among the topmost forks of the elms, 

 the sable birds add to the rural sounds that rise 

 around them, a hoarse cawing that tells of coming 

 vernal hours, and sounds not ungrateful to the ear of 

 the observant naturalist. 



The WytchHazle (JJlinus montana), whose gnarled 

 monstrous headed twiggy stumps grotesquely impend 

 above many a ravine or ancient hollo way, has its 

 spreading branches at this period amply covered with 

 a conspicuous inflorescence. 



When wandering about in many-weathered March, 

 if not with an object in view, yet seeking for one to 

 sooth or aid the mind by suggestive reflections, some 

 ruined wall or desolate fragment of castle or abbey 

 perhaps arrests the gazing eye, where sweetening 

 decay, the familiar Wall-flower brightens the gray 

 fabric with its golden spreading petals. Like the 

 martin among birds it loves the " coign of 'vantage" 

 or the vacant sculptured niche of the desolate priory, 

 as if it would hint to man how far more beautiful its 

 natural position when left to itself than when cramped 

 in an artificial border. So genius overleaps the tram- 

 mels of society and revels in its own aspirations. Yet 

 it is remarkable that in this country it is only an 

 escape of domestication a captive that has broken its 

 garden chain, although a true denizen of the south of 

 Europe. But the power of association has with the 

 poet's aid linked it to ruined walls and broken battle- 

 ments, where it asserts its fragrant rule by day, 

 leaving the owl and the ivy to the terrors of romance 

 and night. 



