EXPLORATORY NOTICES FOR OCTOBER. 499 



sycamore leaves are covered with black patches from 

 Rhytisma Acerinum, another curious little epiphyte. 

 Even in summer the foliage of the Maple may fre- 

 quently be seen white-washed to some extent by a 

 little Erysiplie, but in autumn these vegetative vermin 

 multiply and spread about to a wonderful extent. 

 Fallen -hazel leaves are frequently dotted with hoary 

 patches of the Erysiplie guttata, and numerous others 

 tinge, stamp, or mark fallen leaves, offering plentiful 

 employment for the thoughtful consideration of the 

 mycologist, while light enables him to inspect them. 



Often on a dreamy autumnal day, when the misty 

 wreath has rolled down from the hills and enveloped 

 the level country in vapour, through which no sound 

 vibrated upon the ear, has twilight surprised me upon 

 woody heights covered with holly-trees and carpeted 

 with long damp moss. Then, ere I descended, what 

 a scene of grave tints and awful shadows has appeared 

 beneath the western sky, where only a long line of 

 deep ruby has rested, partly intercepted by one dark 

 distant mountain peak. In the world of darkness 

 below me, the trailing blue smoke was but just visible, 

 and the yellow gorse and brown fern of the wild heath 

 hardly discernible. 



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