86 THE BEECH. 



trill of "the woodpecker tapping the hollow beech-tree." Naturalists 

 find in connection with the beech quite another class of objects, 

 namely, fungi of uncommon kinds, one in particular, that in autumn 

 appears upon the trunks, and from its resemblance to sprays of white 

 coral, has been classically named Hydnum coralloides. So beautiful 

 are the plans and marshallings of nature ! If to one tree be given good 

 fruit, another excels in foliage ; if one be tall and soaring, another 

 gives sweet amplitude of shade, touching the earth with the tips of its 

 great arms ; and like the cities of a great empire, every one is noted 

 for a merit and Suite of qualities peculiarly its own. 



