THE FOEESTS 167 



breaking upon the glossy leaves in long lance-rays, 

 like mountain water among boulders. But to me 

 there is something more impressive in the fall of 

 light upon these Silver Pines. It seems beaten to 

 the finest dust, and is shed off in myriads of minute 

 sparkles that seem to come from the very heart of 

 the trees, as if, like rain falling upon fertile soil, it 

 had been absorbed, to reappear in flowers of light. 



This species also gives forth the finest music to 

 the wind. After listening to it in all kinds of winds, 

 night and day, season after season, I think I could 

 approximate to my position on the mountains by 

 this pine-music alone. If you would catch the 

 tones of separate needles, climb a tree. They are 

 well tempered, and give forth no uncertain sound, 

 each standing out, with no interference excepting 

 during heavy gales; then you may detect the click 

 of one -needle upon another, readily distinguishable 

 from their free, wing-like hum. Some idea of their 

 temper may be drawn from the fact that, notwith 

 standing they are so long, the vibrations that give rise 

 to the peculiar shimmering of the light are made at 

 the rate of about two hundred and fifty per minute. 



When a Sugar Pine and one of this species equal 

 in size are observed together, the latter is seen to 

 be far more simple in manners, more lithely grace 

 ful, and its beauty is of a kind more easily appre 

 ciated; but then, it is, on the other hand, much less 

 dignified and original in demeanor. The Silver 

 Pine seems eager to shoot aloft. Even while it is 

 drowsing in autumn sun-gold, you may still detect 

 a skyward aspiration. But the Sugar Pine seems 

 too unconsciously noble, and too complete in every 

 way, to leave room for even a heavenward care. 



