OCTOBEE. 469 



tered pages of poetry. Even in this contemplation of 

 the little detached objects that meet the eye at every 

 turn, Nature may be well enjoyed. I never ramble 

 down a winding shady tree-embowered lane, or even 

 look into a ditch or hollow by the road side, but I see 

 something worthy of observation at least a lead of 

 beauty, that deserves to be taken up and preserved 

 upon the string of recollection. 



In favourable, and especially sheltered maritime 

 localities, many plants will continue in blossom to a 

 very late period of the year ; and hence the Botanical 

 Explorator need never despair of improving a fine day 

 even to the very verge of Christmas itself. 



Winter begins to threaten, dashes a gust of whirl- 

 ing leaves about our heads, and as we approach the 

 margin of the ocean, its vast extent oscillates with 

 yeasty waves far as the eye can reach. But along the 

 shore, as we wind about from marsh to sand-hill and 

 to cliff, how many spots of beauty yet remain to charm 

 the exploring eye. The Sea Starwort (Aster Tripo- 

 liuin) flowers still, showing its pale purple rays and 

 yellow eye ; Sea Campion (Silene maritima) yet trails 

 its mealy stems, with silver petals like frills beyond 

 its inflated calyces ; and little shrubberies of Sea 

 Wormwood (Artemisia maritima), white and downy, 

 offer not an. inelegant spectacle. On the coast of 

 Wales, scenting the morning on the blowing sands of 

 Barmouth, the little green marshy lawns on its con- 

 fines fill the air with mild fragrance, well known to 

 the nose of the botanist, from an abundance of Lady's 

 Tresses (Neottia, spiralis), while hosts of autumnal 

 Gentian (Gentiana amarella) spangle the ground with 

 their branched heads of deep purple flowers. The 



