148 WILD FLOWERS OF 



tain turf displays a host of Jwigermannice, whose 

 black globular-headed thecce glisten upon pellucid 

 stalks amidst their matted bright green foliage. The 

 banks of many quiet gliding brooks remain green 

 through the winter with the close-tiled fronds of the 

 wide-spreading MarcJiantia, which at times gives out 

 a peculiar pleasing scent unaccountable to the wan- 

 derer, when concealed from view as it often is. 



Even amidst the tempests of this brumal season, a 

 few stray members of Flora's train may be traced ; 

 and in gardens the Sweet Coltsfoot (Tussilago fra- 

 grans) flowers, as well as the Christinas Eose (Helle- 

 borus niger). In the woods the Spurge Laurel 

 (Daphne laureola), is almost the only plant that gives 

 any visible token of vegetable life by showing a dispo- 

 sition to flower, except that here and there a Grorse- 

 bush (Uleoc Europceus), with its yellow buds glazed in 

 ice, gives a promise of what a few hours of genial 

 sunshine might perform. But every thing now 

 becomes obscured in sleet and rain, severe frosts set 

 in, or snow covers the earth, till yielding before the 

 milder influences of February ; when at Candlemas, 

 the Primaveral Reign, with which we commenced v 

 again comes round in its turn. Thus, as has been 

 well remarked, " in this our temperate climate, have 

 we a round of botanical amusements all the whole 

 year, and the Botanist can never want for sources of 

 recreation."* 



In glancing upon the varying Floralias of the year 

 and the different images they impress upon the mind, 

 some preference to one or the other may possibly be 

 suggested by fancy or memory, or we may consider 



* Perennial Calendar, by T. FORSTER, F.L.S. 



