The Birds' Calendar 



and fragrance are of little account in comparison 

 with the all-important (questions, "Is it exog- 

 enous or endogenous — is it monopetalous or 

 polyi)etalous? " Should they chance to l)ehold 

 a rich display of autumn foliage, they at once fall 

 to inquiring whether it is an evidence of decay 

 produced by the action of frost, or the legiti- 

 mate ripening of the chlorophyl ; or with great 

 satisfaction assert the latest dictum of science on 

 that point. To them a rare crystal means a 

 certain mathematical form and cleavage ; while 

 the gorgeous coloring of sunset clouds is chiefly 

 a neat illustration of the absorption of certain 

 prismatic rays by the dense lower stratum of air. 

 Such folks are cold-blooded analysts, and they 

 have their place. Taken in small doses they are 

 very instructive, but as constant companions 

 they are wearing. 



By the close of the month the landscape had 

 that peculiar unkempt a})i)earance of fall, as of 

 an old man beginning to look untidy. In the 

 Ramble and elsewhere, the bloom was almost 

 confined to the masses of composite flowers, 

 W'hite, and purple, and yellow, that run riot 

 among the trees, in defiance of all rules of land- 



268 



