208 AUTUMNAL LEAVES. 



bands or markings generally taking the direction 

 of the veins that is to say a direction diagonal to 

 the mid-vein, and giving a sort of striped appear- 

 ance to the leaf. In this, as in other cases, it is 

 generally noticeable that the autumn tinting first 

 commences in the parallel spaces which lie between 

 the veins the veins themselves, and the cellular 

 tissue which covers them, being the last to give 

 up the normal green hue. Hence the alternate 

 appearance of green and orange or light brown or 

 reddish fiery brown for the green lines of the 

 veins separate the other and discolouring portions 

 of the leaf. At other times the tinting begins at 

 one end or at one side of the leaf and spreads 

 thence to the opposite end or side until uniformity 

 of hue prevails over the whole surface. But 

 between the kinds of colouring just indicated 

 there are others giving, as we have said, almost 

 endless variety and variety which may be ob- 

 served by close examination upon not merely the 

 same tree but upon the same branch. The natural 

 lustre of the Beech leaf, its gloss and finish, lend 

 additional attraction to the loveliness of its autumn 

 tinting. But when all these delicate shades are 



