Birkdale. 231 



of the neighbourhood amount to at least thirty. Espe- 

 cially rich are the low wet sandy grounds that lie be- 

 yond Birkdale, and the plateaux that occur among the 

 sand-hills beyond that noble edifice which, calling it- 

 self the " Palace Hotel," will some day be a first-class 

 Sanatorium. It is of this building that, by the courtesy 

 and liberality of the proprietors, a view is prefixed as 

 frontispiece to the present volume. No other at South- 

 port is so truly a seaside place, being quite away from 

 town-disturbances, yet enjoying the advantages of a rail- 

 way station close at hand. The look-out in all directions 

 is very pleasing, that over the water particularly so ; 

 and from the gallery at the summit is obtained a pano- 

 ramic view so vast and varied, that Southport need never 

 be contemned again for its flatness. The sand-hills im- 

 mediately beyond, form in their wild and ever-changing 

 aspects ample substitutes for a corn and pastoral country. 

 Standing upon their spear-clad ridges, we seem to be 

 surveying a miniature Cordillera; in winter the snow 

 beautifully flecks their northward and eastward slopes ; 

 while the southern and western ones bask in the sun- 

 shine ; mosses of all shades of green and coppery-gold 

 strew the firmer parts with little islands of sweet bright- 

 ness; and the light that lies on the round pools is always 

 purple. It is on these sand-hills that not only is health 

 to be sought and found, but that the naturalist has so 

 much enjoyment. Here grow the lovely Pyrola and the 

 Parnassia, thick as snow-flakes, the golden Chlora and 



