MAY. 



147 



very conspicuous rings, while within the woods crowds 

 of them of almost every colour will be visible upon 

 the ground. The orchards show their rosy-cheeked 

 products in splendid perfection at this time, though 

 autumnal gales arising whirl thousands of leaves about 

 in the air ; and the foliage of all deciduous trees fading 

 into parti-coloured brilliance, gives an aspect of singu- 

 lar though melancholy magnificence to the face of 

 nature. The ground now becomes every where crisp 

 and leaf-strown, berries of numerous kinds, especially 

 the Hawthorn and Mountain- Ash, glisten in the dews 

 of morning, and every brambly hedge is loaded with 

 clustering Blackberries. A colder temperature at 

 length becomes very evident, and thick fogs prevailing 

 in the early part of the day involve all things in their 

 reeking folds. 



From the end of November to the beginning of 

 February is the Hibernal Period, scarcely however at 

 all connected with the Flora conspicua. The realm of 

 flowers, sacked and desolated by the autumnal gales, 

 lies in a state of ruin and desecration, scarcely any 

 thing but withered stalks appear in the gardens ; and 

 as FOESTEB, remarks in his " Indications of the Sea- 

 sons" " almost all nature seems at length to slumber, 

 and till the Holly and Ivy berries of Christmas enliven 

 our houses, every thing seems sombre and uninviting." 

 Yet, abroad, all is not barren to the botanist, for many 

 curious species of Pezizce, Spherics, Tlielephorce, Tre- 

 mellince, fyc. luxuriate in the damp atmosphere, and 

 even scent it very agreeably. Mosses and Lichens are 

 attaining their utmost perfection and luxuriance with 

 every brumal storm roofs, rocks, and precipices, 

 become green and beautiful with them, and the moun- 



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