18 Na/ural Productions of Lexden 



of the birds common to wooded districts, and some which are 

 by no means generally diffused. 



The boggy ground, in which the springs have their rise, is 

 covered with low alders, and produces much that is interesting 

 to the botanist. The raspberry (7i!iibus ida^^is) abounds in 

 it, and, when the fruit is ripe, presents a temptation to venture 

 on the soft and treacherous soil. In spring, the brilliant 

 Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, with its yellow flowers and 

 shinin<' foliage, forms large beds of green and gold ; the lowly 

 wood sorrel (O'xalis Acetosella) hangs its pale and modest 

 head beneath the mossy stumps of the decayed alders ; the 

 beautiful ferns, Aspidium JFllix fce'mina and Aspidium di- 

 latatum, luxuriate in the moisture and shade so congenial to 

 them ; and the huge Carex paniculata rises to the height of 

 four feet or more, and, with its long and elegant leaves issuing 

 from the top of the stem, and reaching to the ground, might, 

 by its exotic appearance, almost make you imagine that you 

 had been suddenly transported into some tropical region, — 



" Where the huge palms extend their shady tops. 

 And torrents foam o'er beds of golden sand." 



But the song of the nightingale in the adjoining copse, the 

 peculiarly joyous and happy note of the willow wren (Cur- 

 ruca Trochilus), the loud and familiar laugh of the wood- 

 pecker (Picus viridis), and the often repeated note of the 

 marsh tit (Parus palustris) are sounds which will soon awaken 

 feelings inseparably connected with " our own, our native 

 isle." Amongst the vernal plants of our district must not be 

 omitted the sweet Adoxa Moschatellina, which rears its 

 delicate flowers on the moss-grown bank of many a shady 

 hedgerow ; a mild and certain liarbinger of sunny days to 

 come. On the dry banks we have Jasione montana and the 

 diminutive yet elegant Ornithopus perpusillus. Our woods 

 abound with the anemone and the hyacinth (Anemone ne- 

 morosa and »Scilla niitans), and our river banks are clothed 

 with the beautiful spikes of Z/ythrum Salicaria, the unassuming 

 Scutellaria galericulata, and Cardamine amara with its bright 

 purple anthers. 



From the beginning of autumn to the end of the year, we 

 see on the borders of our streams that graceful little bird 

 the grey wagtail (Afotacilla Boarula) taking its insect prey 

 among the stones in the shallow water ; and, in the depth of 

 winter, the siskin (Pringilla ASpinus) abounds on the lofty 

 alders, the seeds of which afford it acceptable food. The 

 brilliant kingfisher (^Icedo I'spida) is almost constantly to be 

 seen skimming over the surface of our waters, or seated on 



