( 87 ) 



head may often form an agreeable apex to a 

 clump. 



Having thus confidered the pine-race, we 

 next take a view of a tribe nearly allied to them 

 that of firs. In what the diftinc~lion between 

 thefe two tribes confifts, (tho, I apprehend, 

 it confifts in little more, than in that between 

 genus, and fpecies) the botanift will explain. 

 I profefs myfelf an obferver only of outward 

 characters. What we ufually call the Scotch 

 fir appears to me to approach nearer the pine 

 in it's manner of growth, than it does any of 

 it's nominal clafs. As this tree therefore feems 

 to be of ambiguous nature, at leaft as to 

 it's form, I mall place it here that is imme- 

 diately after the pines, and before the firs; 

 that it may with facility join one party, or the 

 other, as the reader's botanical principles 

 incline. 



The Scotch fir is fuppofed to be the only 

 indigenous Terebinthine tree in this iiland; 

 and yet tho it abounds, and when feen in 

 perfection is a very pifturefque tree, we have 

 little idea of it's beauty. It is generally treated 

 with great contempt. It is a hardy plant, and 



G 4 therefore 



