THE HEATH. 103 



with its blue, bell-shaped flowers; but, owing to 

 the wiry elasticity of its stem, it may be bowed 

 by the wind to the ground, but not broken. 



Now, the various kinds of pine and larch grow 

 in exposed mountainous situations, where there is 

 nearly always a breeze astir, and very frequently 

 a heavy gale ; but they preserve their foliage safe 

 during the most violent storm; for their leaves, 

 though rigid, are so narrow, that they offer little 

 resistance to the wind, which, as it passes through 

 them, causes the murmuring sound almost always 

 to be heard, in a greater or less degree, in their 

 vicinity. 



It has often struck me, when I have been walk- 

 ing through a wood or park early in spring, so 

 early I mean, that although the leaves of the trees 

 are almost fully expanded, the storms of winter 

 have scarcely ceased, it has often occurred to 

 me, when I have seen a few leaves torn off and 

 driven before me by the unseasonable blast, that, 

 if God were pleased to send the storms of winter 

 at another season, late in spring, for instance, or 

 at midsummer, most of the woods and forests in 

 England would be in a few weeks laid prostrate. 

 If the trees were to put forth their leaves in 

 the winter, the result would be the same ; and 

 even supposing that they escaped this untimely 

 fate, they would be quickly stripped of all their 

 green honours. According to the present harmo- 

 nious arrangement, which He in His wisdom has 

 seen fit to institute, the stormiest seasons are 



is said, gave this name to it, from having observed it early in 

 the season, (when its leaves only make it conspicuous,) grow- 

 ing on the steps leading to his lecture-room in the University 

 of Upsal. 



