BIECH. 305 



though the last two tints are much more common 

 in the Birch leaf than yellow. Then, whilst one 

 side may remain green in the centre the margin 

 of the same side will turn perhaps to a golden 

 orange, the other side having an orange ground 

 with green spots or freckles. At other times a 

 whole leaf will be found to have turned to rich, 

 golden brown with the exception of a final freck- 

 ling of green the remnants of the departing 

 colour equally spread over all the surface. 

 Blotches of russet, too, on a ground made up of 

 green and orange, or patches of green on a golden 

 brown, or orange, ground are variations from 

 the colouring already indicated. But the grada- 

 tions of colouring are too numerous to indicate 

 in detail. 



Speaking of the motion of the Weeping Birch 

 foliage Gilpin says : ' Its spray being slender and 

 longer than the common sort forms an elegant 

 pensile foliage, like the Weeping Willow, and, 

 like it, is put in motion by the least breath of air. 

 When agitated it is well adapted to characterize 

 a storm, or to perform any office in landscape 

 which is expected from the Weeping Willow.' 



