STUDY XI. 



24| 



of being more lofty than they really are. She apr 

 propriates, befides, the pyramidical form to many 

 mountain-trees, in order to increafe the apparent 

 elevation of their fite ; this is obfervable in the 

 larch, the fir, the cyprefs, and in many other 

 plants, which grow on heights. She fometimes 

 Unites, in the fame place, the effects of feafons and 

 of climates the moft oppofite. She clothes, in hot 

 climates, the whole fides of mountains with the 

 vegetable called the ice-plant, becaufe it feems en- 

 tirely covered over with flakes of ice j you would 

 believe that, in the midft of Summer, Boreas had 

 breathed upon it all the chilling blafts of the 

 North. 



On the other hand, we find, in Ruflia, mofTes in 

 the midft of Winter ; which, from the red and 

 fmoky colour of their flowers, have the appearance 

 of being fet on fire. In our rainy climates, (he 

 crowns the fummits of hillocks with broom and 

 rofemary ; and the tops of ancient towers with the 

 yellow gilly-flower ; in the midft of the gloomieft 

 day, you would imagine you faw the rays of the 

 Sun mining upon therm 



In another place, (he produces the effect of the 

 wind in the midft of perfect ftillnefs. In many 

 parts of America, a bird has only to alight on a 



* 3 tuft 



