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the branches. But this was a mere accidental 

 effect ; for you may fee many pollard-oaks 

 with withered leaves, and covered with ivy ; 

 and yet not fee the tints fo happily arranged as 

 to produce an effed:. 



In the fpring alfo we fometimes have a 

 plealing appearance of a fimilar kind. About 

 the end of April, when the foliage of the oak 

 is juft beginning to expand, it's varied tints 

 are often delightfully contrafted with the deep 

 green of an ivy-bum, which has overfpread 

 the body, and larger limbs of the tree : and 

 the contrail has been ftill more beautiful, 

 when the limbs are covered, as we fometimes 

 fee them, with tufts of brimftone-coloured 

 mofs. 



All thefe plants are parafitical, as the botanift 

 expreffively calls them. The tribes of moiTes, 

 lychens, and liver-worts make no pretence to 

 independence. They are abfolute retainers. 

 Not one of them gets his own livelihood ; nor 

 takes the leaft ftep towards it. The ivy in- 

 deed is lefs dependent. He has a root of his 

 own, and draws nourishment from the ground : 

 but his character is mifreprefented, if his little 

 feelers have not other purpofes, than merely 

 that of mewing an attachment to his potent 



neighbour. 



