214 AUTUMNAL LEAVES. 



it is not easy to understand. But the result con- 

 tributes to the infinite variety which constitutes 

 much of the charm of Nature. Upon the same 

 tree we may see the almost unchanged summer 

 leaf, the leaf with the suffusing sunset glow, the 

 brown-patched leaf, and the leaf with yellow 

 blotches. 



The contrasts, beautiful in themselves, afforded 

 by these varying colours, are, further, affected 

 and deepened or lessened by the weather : and 

 of all weather effects that produced by sunshine 

 is the most powerful. In the summer foliage of, 

 for instance, the Lime there is only the change of 

 shade produced by sunshine. What, under a cloudy 

 sky, was but a mass of uniform green becomes 

 lighted up by varying hues of verdancy as the sun- 

 rays penetrate the leafy maze of the tree head. 

 Yet it is only close inspection that can enable us 

 to discern the varying tints of green. But in the 

 Autumn the multiplication of colours and shades 

 dark green, pale green, fading green, orange, 

 russet, yellow, brown and the modifications of 

 shade of all these, are powerfully affected by the 

 advent of sunshine. 



