248 AUTUMN WOODS. 



remind me of those observed in sea-mosses during the 

 process of bleaching. There is an invariable succession 

 in these tints, as in the brightening beams of morn. They 

 are first of a dark bronze, turning from this to a choco- 

 late, then to a violet brown, and finally to a salmon-color, 

 or yellow with a slight shade of lilac. When the leaves 

 are faded nearly yellow, they are ready to drop from the 

 tree. It is remarkable, that, with all this variety of 

 hues, neither crimson nor any shade of scarlet is ever seen 

 in the ash. It ought to be remembered that the gradations 

 of autumn tints in all cases are in the order of those of 

 sunrise, from dark to lighter hues, and never the reverse. 

 I make no reference to the browns of dead leaves, which 

 are darker than yellow or orange, from which they turn. 

 I speak only of the changes of leaves before they are 

 seared or dry. 



After the middle of October, the oaks are the most 

 conspicuous ornaments of the forest; but they are sel- 

 dom brilliant. In their foliage there is a predominance 

 of what we call leather-colors, with a considerable mix- 

 ture of certain shades of red that are peculiar to the 

 oak. We rarely find pure yellow or scarlet leaves in the 

 foliage of any species of oak. The color of the scarlet 

 oak is nearer a purple or crimson than any other shade of 

 red. The white oak turns, with but little variation, to an 

 ashen-purple or impure violet. The black and red oaks 

 display varying and imperfect shades of drab and orange. 

 The oaks are remarkable for the persistence of their 

 foliage, and for the duration of their tints, which are 

 chiefly the brown and russet of dead leaves with a lively 

 polish. Long after other deciduous trees have become 

 leafless, the various sombre shades of the different oaks 

 cast a melancholy tinge over the waning beauty of the 

 forest. 



We are wont to speak of trees as the principal objects 



