188 FOOTNOTES FROM 



of the year. Though most of them are perennial, yet 

 they are more luxuriant in some seasons than in others, 

 and are particularly exact and exclusive as to their periods 

 of reproduction. The hard and apparently lifeless lichen 

 remains unchanged upon the rock for years, perhaps as 

 long as the rock itself continues uncrumbled, but every 

 year at the approach of winter, when the moist, stormy 

 weather in which it delights prevails, its dormant sus- 

 pended life revives, and when all other plants and an- 

 nuals are hybernating, it begins to exercise the various 

 functions of vitality. The bright silken tufts of the moss 

 continue throughout the whole year to soften the rough 

 harsh aspect of the wall and ruin, and to form velvet 

 pads on the woodland walks to hush the fall of fairy feet, 

 but in spring when " a fuller crimson comes upon the 

 robin's breast, and a young man's fancy lightly turns to 

 thoughts of love," it awakens under the ethereal influ- 

 ence of the universal feeling, clothes itself in its fairest 

 robes, and puts forth its crimson urns, that burn like 

 fairy love-jewels among its emerald leaves. The naiad- 

 like confervse vanish from the waters, for nine months in 

 the year, and return to luxuriate in their cool, clear 

 haunts, as duly as the warm breath of April melts away 

 the icy fetters from the rejoicing streams, and once more, 



" Inverted in the tide, 



Stand the grey rocks, and trembling shadows throw, 

 And the fair trees look over side by side, 

 And see themselves below." 



While the approach of autumn is unmistakeably indi- 

 cated by the springing up of mushrooms in the moist 

 dark recesses of the woods, even when the viewless bound- 



