JULY. 287 



been justly observed, that the bramble-bush is a vege- 

 table fortress to which the inhabitants of the air 

 resort as to a fenced city; here they build their 

 nests in security, and rear their callow brood undis- 

 turbed within the intricate mazes of their thorny 

 citadel, whose remarkable mode of growth, by its 

 arching stem taking root at the extremities, soon 

 presents an intermingled mass of thorny branches 

 impossible to penetrate. The birds themselves often 

 propagate their friendly protector by carrying its 

 berries into pollards, whence, in time, a new briar 

 dangles in the air, or from semi-prostrate willows into 

 the water, producing a wild effect, not unworthy of 

 the artist's pencil. 



" The untutor'd bird may found, and so construct, 

 And with such soft materials line her nest, 

 Fix'd in the centre of a prickly brake, 

 That the thorns wound her not, they only guard."* 



In Mazunderan, a province of Persia, on the bor- 

 ders of the Caspian Sea, a particular gigantic Bramble- 

 bush abounds, according to Mr. FRAZER,t which is 

 honoured by the inhabitants from the perfectly imper- 

 vious jungle it forms, and which is considered the best 

 defence of the country from the inroads of an invader. 

 These brambles bear the appellation of " Pehlewanha 

 Mazunderanee," that is, the heroes or guardians of 

 Mazunderan ; and well, says Mr. FRAZER, do they 

 deserve their title. Every peasant of Mazunderan 

 constantly carries a bill-hook of steel to cut his way 

 through the jungles, which even to the native would 

 be impassable, but for this weapon to cut down the 

 immense spinous arms of the guardian " Pehlewans" 



* WORDSWORTH. 



t FRAZBR'S Winter Journey in Persia, vol. ii. 



