EXPLOEATOEY NOTICES EOE NOVEMBEE. 



" Where late the wild-flower bloomed, the brown leaf lies." 



GRAHAME. 



WITH this month it would almost seem that botanical 

 exploration must terminate, and of course it is so with 

 phanerogamous vegetation, while rainy or foggy days 

 often involve the whole country in a continual drip, 

 that renders the forest shades no enviable place of 

 meditation. Yet, there is no pause in the operations 

 of nature, and when a fine day does occur, how exhili- 

 rating to climb the heathy hills, where the green Cup- 

 mosses and silvery Eein deer Lichens are putting 

 forth their scarlet or brown tubercles, while, perhaps, 

 on some old weather-beaten stump a Lecidea appears 

 in fine fructification, never observed before. Erom 

 the Holly-trees, now showing their ruddy berries, and 

 assuming an importance in the sylvan scene they did 

 not before possess, hosts of Eieldfares flit as if thrown 

 up casually into the air, while deeper within the wood 

 is heard the harsh scream of the Jay. Below the eye 

 the level country seems wrapt in a cold, dull, impene- 

 trable mantle of fog, a calm but desolate sea of vapour; 

 yet above this stratum the sunbeams light up the hill- 

 side in radiance, and glance upon the green or brown 

 Eerns, and, especially where, amidst the intricacies of 

 the crisp bracken, some lonely autumnal flower 

 perhaps even the Harebell, lingers as if it hoped to 

 pass scathless through the coming brumal rigours. 



