CONGENIAL TO A COUNTRY LIFE. 119 



reflects upon what he sees, — is, in spirit, both a 

 naturalist and a philosopher. To him, every season 

 of the year is doubly interesting ; for, independent 

 of those changes apparent to all, there are others 

 which bring peculiar delight to himself. With each 

 succeeding month, new races of animals and plants 

 rise into existence, and become new objects for his 

 research : these, in their turn, pass away, and are 

 succeeded by others ; until autumn fades into winter, 

 and both the animal and the vegetable world sink 

 into repose. But even this ungenial season, so 

 dreary and comfortless to the mere country resident, 

 is not without interest to the naturalist; for no 

 period of the year is so unsuited to animal life, as 

 to leave our climate destitute of inhabitants. A fine 

 sunny day, in the depth of winter, calls forth many 

 little insects, rarely seen at any other period : while 

 the numerous mosses and lichens, then in fructifi- 

 cation, give to the woodland walk of the botanist a new 

 and lively interest. Nor are the naturalist's pursuits 

 suspended when storms prevent his walks, and con- 

 fine him to the house. The acquisitions to his various 

 collections, made during the past year, are to be 

 examined and arranged ; or his loose notes are to 

 be compared and digested. These are fit and 

 delightful occupations for the long winter evenings ; 

 and over a cheerful fire, he only laments that the 

 hours glide too rapidly away. 



" Thus may our lives, exempt from public toil, 



Find tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, 

 Sermons in stones, and good in every thing." 



(66.) The enthusiasm of naturalists is very apt to 

 i 4 



