44 MID-APRIL 
leaf-buds of the may had burst and together 
with the abundant greenery of the elders 
caused the islands to present a very pleasing 
tender shade of colour. The foliage was not 
yet dense enough to obstruct the view 
(Plate XII). Willow catkins were partly 
out ; and the delicate leaves of young oak 
were visible, whilst. the tassels were just 
about to show. The gorse was much more 
golden, and sycamores, privets and_ black- 
berries were all opening into leaf. Young 
nettles with their roughly cut leaves of soft 
yellow green had sprung well up out of the 
grass. The quick-growing cow parsley had 
shot up quite a foot, and many plants of the 
gipsy wort (which has very jagged leaves), 
flooded by the now high water, stood out 
clearly. The hop vines had pushed up 
quite a foot ; docks of various kinds were 
showing, and from a stray flowering currant 
was wafted that delicious aromatic scent 
that speaks to us of the country, and of the 
English country garden in spring time. The 
sun had drawn it out: Spring 15 hene; 
