THE BLOSSOMING OF AUTUMN. 29 



feature will look at the systems of veins of the 

 first two or three leaves of different species he 

 may encounter, he will be astonished at their 

 variety. The character, too, of the cellular tissue, 

 that forms the epidermis of leaves, and is stretched 

 upon the framework of veins, is very varied 

 depending much upon the form of this frame- 

 work and is sometimes smooth and glossy, and 

 at other times dull and curiously crumpled or 

 otherwise relieved from uniformity. Apart, too, 

 from the form and direction of the veins, colour 

 is often an element in the difference between 

 one species of leaf and another, and between in- 

 dividuals of the same species at different stages 

 of growth. It is, of course, colour alone which 

 determines the peculiar character of the autumn 

 leaf ; but in the illustrations given in this volume 

 the Author has been careful to see that the out- 

 line and venation as well as the tinting are 

 correctly delineated. 



In the chapters which follow an endeavour will 

 be made to typify the general aspect or salient 

 characteristics of autumn hedges and autumnal 

 woods, whilst emphasizing the especial charm 



