NOVEMBER 287 



the breeze be whirled away. From the cones of the alders, 

 which grow by preference along the stream, the seeds are 

 shaken into the water, and are drifting to their various 

 destinations, often germinating in the Spring on the breast 

 of the water, establishing themselves at last in a suitable spot. 

 It has been noticed that the alder is less injurious to vege- 

 tation growing beneath it than all other trees; it adds a 

 certain charm to the woodlands, and Gilpin considers it the 

 most beautiful of aquatic trees except the willow. Most of 

 its glossy serrated leaves are still upon its branches, for it is 

 one of the few trees to retain its foliage until very late in the 

 year. Everywhere the world is putting on its Winter appear- 

 ance ; upon paths thickly lie the acorns tipped with yellow, 

 showing where they sat in their elegantly formed cups upon 

 the branches above. In a wayside garden passed to-day, on 

 the empty branches of a young poplar, I noticed a happy 

 gathering of five young starlings, ever and anon uttering a 

 shrill little cry, and beneath them, on a lime, a thrush sat 

 and sang most melodiously : maybe some such words as these 

 was its song to the shivering tree : " The Winter will quickly 

 pass, and Spring come back with gentle potent touch, bidding 

 your emerald leaves unfold, bringing Summer in its train, that 

 shall fill your boughs with blossoms of scented gold ! " In 

 this same garden where the starlings were chattering, and the 

 thrush was singing, the flowers were very scanty; the only 

 bright-coloured blossoms were 



" Autumn daisies lifting violet eyes, 

 Tearful through the mists to misty skies." 



It is lichen-time, and now that the woodland ways are 

 leafless, and vegetation almost at its lowest ebb, we may trace 



