FROM A POET'S PAGES. 357 



tures, where the soil is sandy; pileus convex, yellow, about 

 three or four inches in diameter ; gills change from white to 

 flesh colour. 



How many Vegetable Species exist over the whole surface of the 



Globe? 



I will not do my readers the injustice to suppose that they 

 are unacquainted with the writings of our greatest English 

 poetess, Elizabeth Barrett Browning. They will not fail to 

 have been attracted by the prodigal genius, the superabundant 

 power, the exquisite imagery, the profound spirit of tenderness, 

 the high, pure thoughts, which render almost every page such 

 delightful reading. Successful as she was, however, in giving 

 expression to the most subtle emotions and the intensest feeling, 

 I think she was even happier in her descriptions of scenery. 

 These are invariably aglow with life and colour, and have all 

 the fidelity of Creswick with the imaginative insight of Turner. 

 Turning over her " Aurora Leigh," the other day, I lighted on 

 the following beautiful picture : 



" I flattered all the beauteous country round, 

 As poets use the skies, the clouds, the fields, 

 The happy violets, hiding from the roads 

 The primroses run down to, carrying gold 

 The tangled hedgerows, where the rows push out 

 Their tolerant horns and patient churning mouths 

 'Twixt dripping ash-boughshedgerows all alive 

 With birds, and gnats, and large white butterflies, 

 Which look as if the May-flower had caught life 

 And palpitated forth upon the wind : 

 Hills, vales, woods, netted in a silver mist j 

 Farms, granges, doubled up among the hilis, 



f 



